Headline: DDG Hill discusses WTO accessions at Horn of Africa Initiative ministerial meeting
Four Horn of Africa countries – Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan – are currently negotiating their accession to the WTO. This is half of the total number of African countries seeking to join the WTO and some of the most active in the WTO accession process, DDG Hill noted. Recent progress was made in particular with the accession of Ethiopia, with the 5th Working Party meeting held in March, and the accession of Somalia, with the first Working Party meeting taking place in February.
DDG Hill pointed to Ethiopia’s “Homegrown Economic Reform Programme” launched in 2019, which demonstrates its strong commitment to economic transformation and to building an open and rules-based economy. She said: “WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has stressed that Ethiopia’s accession is a strategic priority for the WTO’s 14th Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Cameroon in March 2026. As the largest economy currently outside the WTO and one of the few remaining least-developed countries in the accession pipeline, Ethiopia’s membership would meaningfully advance the WTO’s goal of universality.”
“Somalia has demonstrated strong political commitment and dedicated technical expertise in the process,” she added, noting the complementarity between WTO accession efforts and the country’s ongoing work to integrate into the East African Community.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss an action plan aimed at boosting trade across the Horn of Africa, building on prior commitments and technical consultations. DDG Hill noted that this year’s focus on regional trade and trade facilitation issues is very timely. “Strengthening trade links can be a key piece in fostering regional integration and connectivity in the Horn of Africa”, she said.
The 24th Horn of Africa Initiative was co-chaired by Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide and the World Bank’s Acting Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa Amit Dar. It brought together ministers of finance and high-level officials from the region. Ministers welcomed a new USD 10 billion contribution from development partners, including the African Development Bank, the European Union, Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United Kingdom and the World Bank.
The meeting closed with Somalia’s Finance Minister, Bihi Iman Egeh, taking over as the new chair of the Initiative for the next two years.
Horn of Africa Initiative
Through the Horn of Africa Initiative, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan are committed to coordinating approaches to exploring regional synergies and addressing regional challenges. They also prioritize regional programmes in infrastructure connectivity, economic integration, resilience building and skills development.
WTO accessions in the Horn of Africa
More information on Ethiopia’s accession is available here.
More information on Somalia’s accession is available here.
Sudan held its 5th Working Party meeting on 26 July 2021. More information on Sudan’s accession is available here.
South Sudan held its first Working Party meeting on 21 March 2019. More information on South Sudan’s accession is available here.
The report finds that trade and supply chain finance (TSCF) supports 8 per cent of Mexico’s goods trade, 12 per cent of Guatemala’s, and 10 per cent of Honduras’s. In the case of Mexico, only about a quarter of merchandise importers and exporters have any access to financing. These are among the lowest access rates across surveyed economies, despite supply chain finance having made some inroads in Mexico’s economy and, to a lesser extent, in Guatemala and Honduras.
The report underscores that there is significant potential to grow and diversify the currently concentrated market for TSCF. Model-based projections show that doubling TSCF coverage and aligning costs with advanced economy standards could raise exports and imports by up to 8.9 per cent in Honduras, 7.8 per cent in Guatemala and 7.4 per cent in Mexico – adding more than USD 90 billion in combined trade volume.
In her opening remarks at the launch, DDG Hill underlined the importance of the WTO-IFC collaboration on trade finance given its key role in enabling trade. Citing the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimation of a USD 2.5 trillion global trade finance gap in 2023, mainly in developing economies, she noted that “inadequate access to trade finance functions in effect as a prohibitive trade cost, holding back trade and closing off economic opportunities for firms and people.”
This is particularly relevant in the case of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and women-owned businesses that “find it particularly hard to access trade finance,” she added.
This is the third and last edition of a short series of reports on trade finance in developing economies aimed at improving understanding of the trade finance ecosystem, the constraints to trade finance and gaps in provisions. The first report focused on West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal) in 2022 and the second on the Mekong region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam) in 2023-24.
The joint WTO-IFC work on trade finance springs from a 2021 joint statement by the WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, pledging to enhance cooperation to improve the analytics, identification, and detection of trade finance gaps in order to better direct capacity building and other resources to where unmet demand is greatest.
DDG Hill stressed that in the countries and regions studied so far, only a limited share of trade is supported by trade and supply chain finance, whereas in advanced economies this share is at least 60 per cent. “In each of the regions we examined, trade finance was heavily concentrated. Too few banks directing too little finance towards a small group of well-established and large traders,” she said.
Doubling the trade finance coverage of trade would increase trade flows by a significant amount and help diversify trade geographically. “More trade finance means not only more trade integration, but also more socioeconomic inclusion through trade,” she added.
Looking ahead, DDG Hill emphasized that the WTO will continue its work – whether in the trade finance field, through its investment facilitation efforts or through the implementation of its Trade Facilitation Agreement – to reduce international trade costs. In many emerging economies, reducing the cost of shipping, financing and border clearance is key to being competitive internationally. “The adoption of digital technologies is paramount in this regard,” she noted.
“We remain at our members’ disposal for promoting trade finance solutions and engaging in expert discussions, such as today’s, with support from multilateral development banks and development financial institutions,” DDG Hill said. She noted that “these efforts help address persistent gaps in trade finance access, especially for small and medium enterprises, and support broader goals of trade inclusion, economic diversification, and digital transformation.” Her full remarks (in Spanish) are here.
Policy recommendations included in the report point at strengthening supply chain markets through regulatory harmonization, digital innovation, improved risk assessments and better access for small and women-owned firms. International organizations and development banks can also play a key role through capacity building, liquidity support and risk-sharing facilities.
The launch was followed by a presentation of the report and a panel discussion bringing together representatives of the WTO, IFC, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Mexican government and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).
Since its establishment on 1 January 1995 to oversee the multilateral trade agreements negotiated by its 128 original members, the WTO has seen an ongoing expansion of its membership and continued interest from many economies seeking to join the organization. As a result, the percentage of world trade accounted for by WTO members has risen from 87 per cent in 1995 to over 98 per cent today.
Over the past 30 years, 60 countries and customs territories have applied for accession to the WTO. Of these, 38 have completed the process, bringing the WTO’s total membership to 166. Meanwhile, 22 economies are currently at various stages of negotiating their accession.
Although those seeking to join the WTO have followed similar paths of economic reform, WTO accession processes have varied significantly. Some completed the process relatively quickly – for example, after just three to four years of negotiations, the Kyrgyz Republic and Oman joined the WTO, in 1998 and in 2000, respectively. Others, such as Kazakhstan and Seychelles, spent nearly two decades in accession talks before becoming members, both in 2015. These longer timelines reflect the evolving nature of the accession process.
Unlike accessions in the era of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), WTO accessions require far-reaching structural reforms that go well beyond traditional trade-opening, often encompassing multiple sectors of the acceding economy. Moreover, the process demands a thorough understanding of the applicant’s economic systems, policy frameworks and reform priorities, which must be underpinned by broad-based domestic consensus.
Why, then, do governments choose to undertake the rigorous demands of WTO accession? For many, the answer lies in a desire to modernize institutions and regulatory practices, enhance the business environment and attract foreign direct investment. These motivations often go hand-in-hand with broader national goals, including market-oriented reforms, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Market-opening and structural reforms, for instance, have been central to the evolution of many economies. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in 1991, international trade played a pivotal role in transforming the economies of the newly independent states and in strengthening their ties with the global economy. WTO membership served as a powerful vehicle for the modernization of these economies, as well as of other formerly centrally planned economies, such as China and Viet Nam.
In addition, least-developed countries (LDCs), beginning with Cambodia and Nepal in 2004, and most recently Comoros and Timor-Leste in 2024 – making a total of 11 LDC accessions to date – have used the accession process to lay the foundations for poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.
In the cases of Cabo Verde, Samoa and Vanuatu, WTO membership was soon followed by graduation from LDC status (in 2008, 2014 and 2020, respectively). For others, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal and Cambodia, graduation is expected before the end of this decade.
As many LDCs began their accession processes while classified as “fragile and conflict-affected states”, WTO membership has also played an important role in reshaping perceptions of their economic and development potential.
Recently, WTO economists quantified the economic impact of undertaking the robust commitments required for WTO accession. Their analysis found that economies implementing reforms and making deeper commitments during accession negotiations grew an average of 1.5 percentage points faster than they otherwise would have done. A review of both completed and ongoing accessions underscores that the WTO accession process serves as a catalyst for domestic reform, helping to create an enabling environment for economic resilience and sustainable growth.
In the same way that WTO accessions have anchored domestic transformations, accessions have also benefitted the global trading system. Through accessions, the percentage of world trade accounted for by WTO members has risen from 87 per cent in 1995 to over 98 per cent today.
Despite the proliferation of free trade agreements and the sharp rise in tariff barriers, the vast majority of this trade – still more than 70 per cent – continues to be conducted under the WTO’s most-favoured-nation (MFN) principles. This has promoted the integration of global supply chains and, in so doing, has lowered trading costs for all WTO members.
The scope of the WTO can also be measured in terms of population. At the time when the WTO was established, the original members represented just 69 per cent of the world’s population. Today, thanks to the accession of new members, that share has risen to 94 per cent. In other words, over the past 30 years, the WTO has extended its reach to an additional 2 billion people – further strengthening the inclusiveness and global relevance of the multilateral trading system.
Beyond their individual reforms, economies that have joined the WTO since 1995 have made substantial systemic contributions to the WTO. Each accession prompts existing members to reflect on how best to uphold and advance the WTO’s core values. As a result, accessions have repeatedly helped to deepen, clarify and modernize existing disciplines.
Collectively, acceded members have added more than 1,500 legally binding commitments to the WTO rulebook. These commitments – coupled with guarantees for deeper access to their domestic markets for goods and services – have made the WTO stronger, more dynamic and more responsive to evolving global trade realities.
In key areas, such as domestic support in agriculture and the regulation of state-owned enterprises, members who have joined over the past 30 years have often taken on more comprehensive and detailed commitments, reflecting an evolution of obligations in relation to existing WTO norms. In several areas – notably trade facilitation, tariff rate quotas and export subsidies – accession negotiations have also achieved concrete results years before the emergence of multilateral trade disciplines, demonstrating the forward-looking nature of the accession process.
In the area of transparency alone, acceded members have adopted over 250 specific commitments. Some of these members could even be considered to be “transparency champions”, given that they have submitted extensive notifications to the WTO about their trade measures – including in areas where original members have been less forthcoming, or where multilateral disciplines do not yet exist, such as the notification of privatization programmes.
Today, 30 years after the establishment of the WTO, acceded members account for more than one-fifth of its total membership. Accessions are a force for change – driving re-examinations of the WTO rulebook, steering the trading system away from complacency, and challenging original members to match the benchmarks set by the newer members. This has been especially relevant in recent years, as the multilateral trading system has been facing mounting pressure. Acceding members offer a source of hope for the future of the trading system. Even amid global uncertainty and growing challenges, many of them have remained actively engaged, recognizing that no economy’s prosperity is secure in isolation, however large or small that economy might be.
The admission of new members has been a true success story, but work on WTO accessions is far from complete. Twenty-two governments – a diverse group, whose future membership will further enrich the WTO – remain in the process of accession.
As an institution, the WTO will try to support these governments by providing targeted technical assistance and capacity-building. As always, a key area of focus will be the accession of the remaining LDCs, all of which are also classified as fragile and conflict-affected states. Supporting these countries in their WTO accession processes, through dedicated programmes and tailored approaches, can serve as a catalyst for economic reform, institution-building and integration into the global trading system. Over time, this can also help to foster lasting stability and peace and to establish a gradual pathway out of fragility and toward greater resilience.
Over the years, it has become increasingly clear that integration into the multilateral trading system does not end on the date of an economy’s accession. Indeed, the immediate post-accession period presents a distinct set of challenges – particularly for governments with limited institutional and administrative capacity.
While the WTO recognizes the need for sustained support during this critical phase – when newly acceded members are often required to implement further domestic reforms to fulfil their WTO commitments – it has yet to develop robust institutional mechanisms to provide targeted support during this period. There is scope for improvement in this area, and especially in supporting the effective integration of recently acceded LDCs.
Thirty years since the establishment of the WTO, accessions continue to renew and enrich the organization. As new members continue to bring fresh perspectives and commitment to the multilateral trading system, WTO accessions will remain a powerful force for reform, international cooperation and global economic integration.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Speech
Universal Periodic Review 49: UK Statement on Lesotho
Statement by the UK’s Ambassador for Human Rights to the UN, Eleanor Sanders, at Lesotho’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr Vice-President,
We thank Lesotho for explaining their efforts to protect human rights.
We particularly welcome the implementation of existing legislation to address gender-based violence. We urge the government to tackle structural drivers of gender-based violence and extend support services for survivors, particularly in rural areas.
We call on the government to protect the rights of those living and working in the vicinity of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. Providing adequate compensation, employment benefits and educational opportunities, and safeguarding women from sexual exploitation are vital.
Lastly, we encourage Lesotho to address inequities in early years education by supporting children from the ebaPhuti and Xhosa peoples to access educational resources in their indigenous languages.
We recommend that Lesotho:
Provides communities affected by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project with adequate compensation, and access to related electricity, employment and educational opportunities.
Extends support services for women and girls in both rural and urban areas across Lesotho, including for survivors of sexual violence.
Implements a strategy to support children from the ebaPhuti and Xhosa peoples to access educational resources in their indigenous languages.
Question for written answer E-001636/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Benoit Cassart (Renew)
The war in Sudan has given rise to a sizeable movement of people. In 2024, some 1 800 Sudanese nationals were registered in Morocco by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), out of a total of 3 900 people registered there. In 2025, the UNHCR has already counted 1 300 people, a large majority of them unaccompanied minors, who are particularly easy prey for terrorist movements such as Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda. The reduction in UNHCR funding goes hand in hand with increased instability and insecurity in the region.
How does the Commission intend to tackle the domino effect of a reduction in the UNHCR budget – and consequently in its staff – on stability and security in the regions concerned?
The Trump administration’s cuts to funding for American universities and research have left many scientists reeling and very worried. At the National Institutes of Health, which has an annual budget of US$47 billion to support medical research both in the U.S. and around the world, nearly 800 grants have been terminated. The administration is considering cutting the overall budget of the NIH by 40%.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to three scientists, two in the U.S. and one in South Africa, about what it’s like to be a scientist whose funding has been cut by the Trump administration.
Sunghee Lee was in a meeting when she received an email to say that her $5 million, five-year grant from the NIH had been terminated. It was March 21, and Lee, a research professor at the University of Michigan, was stunned.
“ It was very short and opaque, which is very different than how NIH usually operates”, she said. Lee’s project, which started in 2024, looked at different risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease across racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. The termination email cited diversity, equity and inclusion studies, an early target of the Trump administration’s cuts to federal research funding, which it said no longer “effectuates agency priorities.”
Lee was confused. “ Our study looks at everybody,” she said. “So if looking at everybody is a DEI study, just about any data collection in this country should be classified as DEI studies and terminated.”
An arduous application process
A few weeks earlier, Brady West, a colleague of Lee’s at the University of Michigan, had received similar news. West’s access to a federal research data center, a secure room to access restricted personal data, was withdrawn. He was told that one of his NIH-funded projects, which looked at measuring health disparities between people of different sexual identities, was no longer in compliance with recent executive orders. “Fortunately for me,” he said, “I was nearing the end of this project.”
West explains that it can take up to two years for researchers to win a grant from a federal funding agency like the NIH. That money then supports a whole team of people, including researchers and administrators. All grant applications are reviewed by a panel of experts from the field who judge whether it’s novel, important research.
”A big misconception is that an administration chooses to fund these grants based on what they believe are important topics to research,“ West said. “That’s not the case.”
HIV vaccine research
The vast majority of NIH funding goes to institutions and researchers in the U.S., but a recent analysis by the journal Nature found 811 grants to international teams in more than 60 countries worth more than $340 million.
Glenda Gray is a professor at the infectious disease and oncology research institute at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg and chief scientific officer at South Africa’s Medical Research Council. She’s at the forefront of research efforts to find a vaccine for HIV, work supported largely by grants from the NIH and aid from the United States Agency for International Development.
In January, a $46 million project funded by USAID on experimental HIV vaccines that Gray ran was terminated after the Trump administration dismantled the aid agency. Then in mid-April, she saw that funding for a clinical trial unit in Soweto involved in trials for HIV vaccines had been marked as “pending.” On top of that, four global research networks on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment strategies that the Soweto unit was affiliated with were told by NIH that they could no longer spend any money in South Africa.
Gray says the level of funding, which was won in a competitive, global process, is “irreplacable” and will have drastic impact on HIV research.
“ Basically you lose the knowledge or the value of understanding HIV prevention, HIV vaccines or therapeutics. We have the infrastructure, we have the burden of disease, and we have the ability to answer these questions,” Gray said. “And so it’s going to take much longer to answer these questions than if you had South Africa there. Basically, we slow down HIV vaccine research … you slow down the process of knowledge generation.”
Listen to Sunghee Lee, Brady West and Glenda Gray talk about their experiences and what it means for their research on The Conversation Weekly podcast. It also includes an introduction with Alla Katsnelson, associate health editor at The Conversation in the U.S.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Gemma Ware and Katie Flood. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.
Brady Thomas West has received funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation. Sunghee Lee has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Justice. Glenda Gray has received funding from USAID co-operative agreement for HIV vaccine research and US-NIH funding for HIV vaccines.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
A J-10S fighter jet attached to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and an Egyptian MiG-29 fighter jet taxi on the runway during the China-Egypt “Eagles of Civilization 2025” joint air force training on April 19, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Yu Hongchun)
We’ve reviewed our advice and continue to advise do not travel to Niger. There’s ongoing political instability following a military takeover in July 2023. Protests and civil unrest could occur and turn violent quickly without notice. Avoid government buildings, demonstrations, large crowds and political gatherings. The overall security situation remains highly volatile, and movement restrictions may be implemented at short notice.
There’s a high risk of terrorism, and terrorists may target places visited by foreigners, government buildings and security facilities. There’s a high risk of kidnapping across Niger and foreigners have been targeted.
Some land borders remain closed, and others may close without warning. Trying to leave Niger by land borders is likely to be dangerous. Authorities have been conducting increased security checks on foreigners arriving in Niger by air. This may result in your passport being held by authorities for several days (see ‘Safety’).
Eurojust President Mr Michael Schmid said: Organised crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated and international, operating seamlessly across both physical and digital borders. To meet this challenge, prosecutors from different countries and continents need to unite and devise strategies for closer cooperation. It is not enough to temporarily disrupt criminal networks. We need to hold these criminals accountable in court. That is why I am proud to sign this Working Arrangement with our South Korean counterparts today, laying the foundation for deeper cooperation and more impactful joint casework.
Close inter-state cooperation is essential to root out transnational crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking and cybercrimes, including online sexual abuse and hacking, said Minister of Justice of the Republic of Korea Mr. Park Sung-jae in his remark. Through the Working Arrangement signed today, we are making a step forward to reinforce criminal justice cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the European Union.
As organised crime is expanding on a global scale, judicial cooperation across borders on a worldwide level is of paramount importance for the European Union. The signing of Working Arrangements with partner countries is in line with the EU Strategy to Tackle Organised Crime, supporting judicial authorities in the EU to have effective and reliable cooperation with national authorities outside the Union.
Working Arrangements facilitate the exchange of best practice and provide for more direct and straightforward contact with judicial authorities outside the EU. They can also assist with the access of partner countries’ authorities to Eurojust’s operational cooperation tools in investigations involving at least one EU Member State.
A Working Arrangement is no basis for the exchange of operational personal data, but formalises the role of the Eurojust Contact Point, with the aim of ensuring the more rapid execution of requests for judicial cooperation on both sides. As of November 2023, Eurojust has signed cooperation agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ecuador, Nigeria, Panama and Peru, as well as the Ibero-American Association of Public Prosecutors Offices (AIAMP).
“The world cannot afford to watch the two-State solution disappear,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the Security Council to take urgent action toward achieving a two-state solution, warning that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached levels “beyond imagination.”
The Security Council on Tuesday (Apr 29) held its quarterly open debate on “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,” chaired by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot.
“Across the Middle East, people demand and deserve a better future, not endless conflict and suffering,” Guterres said, calling the region “at a hinge-point in history.” He stressed that peace is only possible by resolving “a core issue that this Security Council has affirmed and re-affirmed decade after decade… a two-state solution, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.”
With the situation in Gaza deteriorating, Guterres said, “For nearly two full months, Israel has blocked food, fuel, medicine and commercial supplies, depriving more than two million people of lifesaving relief. All while the world watches.” He condemned statements by Israeli officials suggesting the use of humanitarian aid as leverage, emphasizing, “Aid is non-negotiable.”
The Secretary-General cautioned against complacency, “This is not a time for ritualistically expressing support, ticking a box, and moving on. We are past the stage of ticking boxes – the clock is ticking. The two-State solution is near a point of no return.”
Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer for Palestine, cited recent remarks by the U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he had urged Israel “to be good to Gaza” and called for allowing humanitarian aid. “We deeply hope that the United States, Egypt and Qatar, with the support of the international community as a whole, will be able to secure a return to the ceasefire to start bringing all this suffering to an end,” Mansour said.
Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative Jonathan Miller rejected claims of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stating, “Our assessments indicate there is currently no evidence of a humanitarian crisis.” He accused Hamas of diverting aid to its fighters and blamed the group for prolonging the war and holding 59 hostages in “inhumane conditions.” “Still, some in the international community continue to draw dangerous false equivalencies,” he said.
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned of broader regional destabilization, “As we speak, Gaza lies devastated by war, Lebanon is only beginning to recover, Syria is embarking on a fragile and uncertain transition, and Iran continues its dangerous pursuit of nuclear armament.” He called for an immediate halt to hostilities, adding, “Our first priority is to stop the hostilities to end the suffering of civilian populations.”
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
India/Pakistan
Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Secretary-General/Syria
Lebanon
General Assembly/Pope
Security Council/Ukraine
Afghanistan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Haiti
Locusts
Noon Briefing Guest
Financial Contribution
INDIA/PAKISTAN
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke separately by telephone with Muhammad Shebaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and he also spoke earlier in the day with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Minister for External Affairs of the Republic of India. In his phone calls, the Secretary-General reiterated his strong condemnation of the 22 April terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir. The Secretary-General noted the importance of pursuing justice and accountability for these attacks through lawful means.
The Secretary-General also expressed his deep concern at the rising tensions between India and Pakistan and he also underscored the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences.
The Secretary-General offered his Good Offices to support any de-escalation efforts.
SECURITY COUNCIL
The Secretary-General, in a briefing to the Security Council this morning on Israel and Palestine, said that the promise of a two-State solution is at risk of dwindling to the point of disappearance. The political commitment to this long-standing goal is farther than it has ever been, he said.
The world cannot afford to watch the two-State solution disappear, heasserted. Political leaders face clear choices — the choice to be silent, the choice to acquiesce, or the choice is to act.
Regarding Gaza, Mr. Guterres said that the recent ceasefire had brought a glimmer of hope – the long-sought release of hostages and the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian relief. But those embers of opportunity were cruelly extinguished with the shattering of the ceasefire on 18 March.
The Secretary-General said that he was alarmed by statements by Israeli government officials about the use of humanitarian aid as a tool for military pressure. Aid is non-negotiable, he said. Israel must protect civilians and must agree to relief schemes and facilitate them, he said.
The Secretary-General told the Council that there must be no hindrance to humanitarian aid – including through the vital work of UNRWA. We need the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and we need a permanent ceasefire.
Mr. Guterres added that it’s time to stop the repeated displacement of the Gaza population – along with any question of forced displacement outside of Gaza, and the trampling of international law must end.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20April%202025
30 APRIL 2025 – Equinor delivered adjusted operating income* of USD 8.65 billion and USD 2.25 billion after tax in the first quarter of 2025. Equinor reported net operating income of USD 8.87 billion and net income at USD 2.63 billion. Adjusted net income* was USD 1.79 billion, leading to adjusted earnings per share* of USD 0.66.
Strong financial and operational performance
Strong financial results and cash flow
Solid oil and gas production
Strategic progress
Successful start-up of the Johan Castberg and Halten East fields
Final investment decision on Northern Lights phase 2.
Capital distribution
First quarter cash dividend of USD 0.37 per share Proposed second tranche of share buy-back of up to USD 1.265 billion Expected total capital distribution for 2025 of up to USD 9 billion.
Anders Opedal, President and CEO of Equinor ASA: “Equinor delivers strong financial results in the first quarter. I am pleased to see the good operational performance and solid production capturing higher gas prices. With the current market uncertainties, Equinor’s core objective is safe, stable and cost efficient operations and resilience through a strong balance sheet.”
“We maintain a competitive capital distribution and expect to deliver a total of USD 9 billion in 2025.”
“The production start-up of the Johan Castberg field strengthens Norway’s role as a reliable energy exporter to Europe. The field opens a new region in the Barents Sea and is expected to contribute to energy supply, value creation and ripple effects for at least 30 years to come.”
“We have invested in Empire Wind after obtaining all necessary approvals, and the order to halt work now is unprecedented and in our view unlawful. This is a question of the rights and obligations granted under legally issued permits, and security of investments based on valid approvals. We seek to engage directly with the US Administration to clarify the matter and are considering our legal options.”
Solid production
Equinor delivered a total equity production of 2,123 mboe per day in the first quarter, down from 2,164 mboe in the same quarter last year.
The operational performance for most of the fields on Norwegian continental shelf is strong, including the Johan Sverdrup and Troll fields. This almost offsets the negative production impact from the shut-in at Sleipner B after the fire in fourth quarter 2024 and planned and unplanned maintenance at Hammerfest LNG.
In the US, production increased from the same period last year. This was due to increased production from the fields and transactions increasing Equinor’s ownership interest in onshore gas assets in 2024.
The production from the international upstream segment, excluding US, is down compared to the same quarter last year, due to exits from Nigeria and Azerbaijan in 2024.
The total power generation from the renewable portfolio was 0.76 TWh, on par with the same period last year.
In the quarter, Equinor completed five offshore exploration wells on the NCS with two commercial discoveries.
Strong financial results
Equinor delivered adjusted operating income* of USD 8.65 billion. and USD 2.25 billion after tax* in the first quarter of 2025. The results are driven by solid gas production and higher gas prices.
Equinor realised a European gas price of USD 14.8 per mmbtu and realised liquids prices were USD 70.6 per bbl in the first quarter.
Adjusted operating and administrative expenses* increased from the same quarter last year driven by overlift, higher maintenance activity and some one-off costs. This was partially offset by active measures to reduce costs for business development and early phase projects in renewables and low carbon solutions.
A strong operational performance generated a cash flow from operating activities, before taxes paid and working capital items, of USD 10.6 billion for the first quarter. Equinor paid one NCS tax instalment of USD 3.09 billion in the quarter.
Cash flow from operations after taxes paid* ended at USD 7.39 billion.
Organic capital expenditure* was USD 3.02 billion for the quarter, and total capital expenditures were USD 4.50 billion.
Equinor continues to demonstrate capital discipline and strengthen financial robustness with a net debt to capital employed adjusted ratio* of 6.9% at the end of the first quarter, compared to 11.9% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024.
Empire Wind 1
After quarter close, Equinor received a halt work order from the US government on the offshore construction on the outer continental shelf for the Empire Wind project. The lease was obtained in 2017 and the project was fully permitted in 2024. It has a potential for delivering power to half a million New York homes, and is approximately 30% to completion.
Equinor is complying with the order and is seeking dialogue with the proper authorities and assessing legal options. The Empire Wind project has per 31 March 2025 a gross book value of around USD 2.5 billion, including South Brooklyn Marine Terminal.
Strategic progress
A major milestone was reached when production was started from the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea on 31 March. Production also started at the Halten East development in the Norwegian Sea, with estimated recoverable reserves of 100 million boe and one year pay-back time.
Equinor continues to optimise and strengthen long-term value creation on the NCS, and was awarded 27 new production licenses in the Awards in Predefined Areas round (APA) in January. The ambition is to drill around 250 exploration wells on the NCS by 2035.
In the quarter, the Bacalhau floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) arrived at its destination in the Santos Basin in Brazil’s pre-salt region. First oil is expected in 2025.
Within low carbon solutions, Equinor together with partners Shell and TotalEnergies made a final investment decision to progress phase two of the groundbreaking Northern Lights carbon transport and storage development in Øygarden. The NOK 7.5 billion investment is expected to increase the total injection capacity from 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year (Mtpa) to at least 5 Mtpa and further develop the commercial market for transport and storage of CO2.
The appraisal wells for carbon storage at Smeaheia were completed in the quarter on time and on cost.
Competitive capital distribution
The board of directors has decided a cash dividend of USD 0.37 per share for the first quarter 2025, in line with communication at the Capital Markets Update in February.
Expected total capital distribution for 2025 is USD 9 billion, including a share buy-back programme of up to USD 5 billion. The board has decided to initiate a second tranche of the share buy-back programme of up to USD 1.265 billion. The second tranche is subject to an authorisation from the company’s annual general meeting 14 May 2025 and will commence after this. The tranche will end no later than 21 July 2025.
The first tranche of the share buy-back programme for 2025 was completed on 24 March 2025 with a total value of USD 1.2 billion.
All share buy-back amounts include shares to be redeemed by the Norwegian State.
*For items marked with an asterisk throughout this report, see Use and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the Supplementary disclosures.
Today, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a five-count indictment against Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona for Maliciously Damaging Property and Vehicles in Interstate Commerce by Means of Fire.
The charging documents filed in the case allege that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.
Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.
“If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No negotiating.”
“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic investigators, working with the FBI and local partners, quickly recovered and analyzed critical evidence following this deliberate attack,” said ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “This attack poses a serious threat to public safety and the ATF remains committed to aggressively pursuing anyone who endangers our communities through violence or destruction.”
“There is nothing American about burning down someone else’s business because you disagree with them politically,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence that have no place in Arizona or anywhere else. If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”
“I would like to recognize the dedicated work of the Mesa Police and Mesa Fire Departments on this case,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber. “Cooperation with our law enforcement partners acts as a multiplier in our efforts to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer. The professionalism and extensive investigative knowledge of the police and fire investigators within our arson taskforce cannot be overstated.”
“My office will be engaged in this investigation, and I’m pleased to be able to share our expertise,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “We have a high level of success in prosecuting these types of crimes. My office stands ready to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the prosecution of this individual.”
“I would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Superstition District Patrol officers who played a crucial role in this investigation. Their swift action in identifying and monitoring the suspicious van parked near the dealership was critical to the success of this operation. I am truly grateful for their diligent police work,” said Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost. “Special thanks also go to the Mesa Police specialty units and the partnering agencies involved. Your collaboration was instrumental in bringing this suspect to justice and enhancing the safety of our community.”
Each count of conviction for Malicious Damage to Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Mesa Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Today, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a five-count indictment against Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona for Maliciously Damaging Property and Vehicles in Interstate Commerce by Means of Fire.
The charging documents filed in the case allege that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.
Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.
“If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No negotiating.”
“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic investigators, working with the FBI and local partners, quickly recovered and analyzed critical evidence following this deliberate attack,” said ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “This attack poses a serious threat to public safety and the ATF remains committed to aggressively pursuing anyone who endangers our communities through violence or destruction.”
“There is nothing American about burning down someone else’s business because you disagree with them politically,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence that have no place in Arizona or anywhere else. If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”
“I would like to recognize the dedicated work of the Mesa Police and Mesa Fire Departments on this case,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber. “Cooperation with our law enforcement partners acts as a multiplier in our efforts to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer. The professionalism and extensive investigative knowledge of the police and fire investigators within our arson taskforce cannot be overstated.”
“My office will be engaged in this investigation, and I’m pleased to be able to share our expertise,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “We have a high level of success in prosecuting these types of crimes. My office stands ready to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the prosecution of this individual.”
“I would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Superstition District Patrol officers who played a crucial role in this investigation. Their swift action in identifying and monitoring the suspicious van parked near the dealership was critical to the success of this operation. I am truly grateful for their diligent police work,” said Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost. “Special thanks also go to the Mesa Police specialty units and the partnering agencies involved. Your collaboration was instrumental in bringing this suspect to justice and enhancing the safety of our community.”
Each count of conviction for Malicious Damage to Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Mesa Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Today, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a five-count indictment against Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona for Maliciously Damaging Property and Vehicles in Interstate Commerce by Means of Fire.
The charging documents filed in the case allege that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.
Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.
“If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “No negotiating.”
“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic investigators, working with the FBI and local partners, quickly recovered and analyzed critical evidence following this deliberate attack,” said ATF Acting Director Dan Driscoll. “This attack poses a serious threat to public safety and the ATF remains committed to aggressively pursuing anyone who endangers our communities through violence or destruction.”
“There is nothing American about burning down someone else’s business because you disagree with them politically,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona. “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence that have no place in Arizona or anywhere else. If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”
“I would like to recognize the dedicated work of the Mesa Police and Mesa Fire Departments on this case,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Brendan Iber. “Cooperation with our law enforcement partners acts as a multiplier in our efforts to remove violent criminals from the streets and make our communities safer. The professionalism and extensive investigative knowledge of the police and fire investigators within our arson taskforce cannot be overstated.”
“My office will be engaged in this investigation, and I’m pleased to be able to share our expertise,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “We have a high level of success in prosecuting these types of crimes. My office stands ready to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the prosecution of this individual.”
“I would like to recognize the outstanding efforts of the Superstition District Patrol officers who played a crucial role in this investigation. Their swift action in identifying and monitoring the suspicious van parked near the dealership was critical to the success of this operation. I am truly grateful for their diligent police work,” said Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost. “Special thanks also go to the Mesa Police specialty units and the partnering agencies involved. Your collaboration was instrumental in bringing this suspect to justice and enhancing the safety of our community.”
Each count of conviction for Malicious Damage to Property in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The investigation in this case is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, Mesa Police Department, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong along with North Dakota Commerce Tourism and Marketing Director Sara Otte Coleman and North Dakota Council on the Arts Rhea Beto, presented the winning entries from the 21st annual North Dakota Governor’s Photo Contest during the North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Minot.
There were 732 submissions from 136 photographers celebrating the beauty of North Dakota’s four seasons and unique experiences through the lens of talented artists.
“This year’s Governor’s Photo Contest brilliantly captures North Dakota’s year-round beauty and vibrant experiences,” Armstrong said. “The exceptional talent displayed in these submissions will be invaluable in showcasing our state as a premier travel destination.”
The 2025 contest embraced the state’s diverse climate and activities by introducing new categories based on seasons. Winners were chosen for stunning scenery across all four seasons (Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter) as well as captivating activities for each (Fall Activities, Spring Events, Summer Activities, Winter Activities).
2025 Governor’s Photo Contest Winners:
Marshall Lipp won the Best in Show award for his photo “Storm Passing in a July Morning Sunrise” which captures Sweet Briar Lake in rural Morton County as the sun breaks through the clouds after a summer storm passes.
Fall Category Winners:
Fall Scenery: Clint Fleckenstein, Bismarck, N.D. – “A Brilliant Autumn Tree Over an Earth Lodge Village”
Honorable Mention: Kayla Gilberston, Jamestown, N.D. – “The Buffalo’s View”
Honorable Mention: Chad Martin Olson, Minot, N.D. – “Running Pheasant”
Honorable Mention: Grant Kraft, Fargo, N.D. – “Winter Theatrics”
Winter Activities: Marshall Lipp, Mandan, N.D. – “A Selfie Under the Northern Lights”
Honorable Mention: Christian Cairy, Jamestown, N.D. – “Walking up the Snowy Hill for More Winter Fun”
These prints will be on display at the North Dakota State Capitol, 18th floor, for the month of May. We’d also like to express our gratitude to the American Automobile Association (AAA) for their continued support as a partner in the Governor’s Photo Contest.
Find descriptions of all winners and honorable mentions along with the complete gallery at https://belegendary.link/GovernorsPhotoContest.
IAEA and South African G20 Presidency side event on the role of nuclear power and the clean energy transitions, in Cape Town. (Photo: B. Carpinelli/IAEA)
For the second year in a row, the IAEA has been invited to collaborate with the G20 on work related to nuclear power. The cooperation with the G20 (Group of Twenty) resumed under the presidency of South Africa at meetings this week in Cape Town, kicking off with a side event hosted by the IAEA and South Africa on the role of nuclear energy in clean energy transitions, as one of the technology dialogues that the presidency is featuring throughout the yearlong process.
Building on its first-ever collaboration on nuclear power with the G20 in 2024 under the presidency of Brazil, the IAEA engagement this year will include publications tailored to inform the group on topics such as the prospects for nuclear power in Africa and repurposing coal-fired plants with nuclear power such as small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as participation in the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy, set for 23-26 September.
“At a time when energy access and security of supply are issues of global concern, the role of nuclear energy in low carbon, resilient and affordable energy systems remains indispensable,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. “Continuing the work that the IAEA began under the presidency of Brazil, we are now looking forward to working with South Africa.”
The first African country to assume the G20 presidency, South Africa is pursuing an Africa-wide approach emphasizing energy security, a just and inclusive clean energy transition and regional energy cooperation. While South Africa remains the only country on the continent to have nuclear power and aims to expand its programme, several African countries have expressed interest in or are embarking its introduction. Egypt is building four large reactors, and other countries such as Ghana and Kenya are working with the IAEA to establish the necessary infrastructure for a nuclear power programme, with a particular interest in SMRs.
The side event opened with special remarks from Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity and Energy of South Africa. Delegates from the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) attended the event, which discussed the state of nuclear power in South Africa as well as the IAEA’s outlook on nuclear power and a description of the upcoming publications that the IAEA will publish as part of its G20 collaboration this year. A session on nuclear power project financing issues followed, with panellists from the IAEA, the International Energy Agency, France and South Africa discussing ways to unlock financing for nuclear power projects and pave the way for faster deployment.
“In the wake of the world aiming to reach net zero by 2050, there has been a return to realism where it is globally accepted that nuclear technology has a huge role to play in the energy mix as a key source to ensure countries achieve their energy security, energy sovereignty, and energy justice in the transition,” said Minster Ramokgopa. “The expansion of the nuclear programme gives South Africa energy security and sovereignty that enables the country to move its economy into a digital era, engage in new research frontiers and take its rightful place amongst leading nations.”
Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa delivering his opening remarks at the nuclear energy side event hosted by the IAEA and South Africa during the G20 ETWG meetings. (Photo: B. Carpinelli/IAEA)
During the event, delegates from G20 members and invited countries delivered remarks from the floor and offered their national perspectives.
“Italy is working to relaunch the use of sustainable nuclear energy, in its net zero emissions path by 2050. We have created the National Platform for Sustainable Nuclear involving R&D centres and industrial capabilities and nowadays our Government is strongly committed to work on enabling a favourable legislative and regulatory framework aimed at promoting the use of safe and innovative nuclear at the national level, including small modular reactors and Generation IV advanced modular reactors,” said Alberto Pela, Head of Delegation and Senior Advisor on International activities at the Department of Energy of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security of Italy.
The United Arab Emirates, an invited country, recently began operating four large nuclear power reactors.
“In the UAE, nuclear energy is more than a power source — it’s a cornerstone of our clean, safe, and sustainable energy future,” said Nawal Yousif Alhanaee, Director of the Future Energy Department at the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. “With the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant meeting up to 25 per cent of our electricity needs, we affirm our commitment to a carbon-free tomorrow powered by peaceful and reliable nuclear technology.”
Rizk’s journey in radiation protection and dosimetry started in 2005 when, after completing her master’s degree in Material Science and Electronic Components in 2004, she was offered the job of Technical Manager at the Individual Monitoring Laboratory at the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission.
There she oversaw the safe occupational radiation exposure of more than 6000 workers across over 400 healthcare facilities, industrial companies and research centres.
“It is important to know what dosimetry is and its importance,” Rizk says, explaining that “it is the measurement and calculation of the radiation dose absorbed by the human body or other devices or objects. It is crucial in fields like radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy to ensure safe and effective use of radiation.”
She also achieved ISO accreditation for the Lebanese laboratory — the first of its kind in the Middle East — setting a new benchmark of standards and quality for radiation protection of occupationally exposed workers in the region.
“Chadia’s efforts have made a lasting impact, consistently raising standards and enhancing practices in the field,” said Director General of the Lebanese Atomic Energy Commission, Bilal Nsouli, and Rizk’s former professor during her Master’s degree.
In 2007, her collaboration with the IAEA began, initially as a fellow and later as a counterpart in four projects under the technical cooperation programme. Rizk worked with the IAEA on individual monitoring and regulatory compliance to improve occupational radiation protection in Lebanon in line with the IAEA International Basic Safety Standards.
“Despite limited resources, she remained steadfast in her commitment to providing dosimetry services according to international standards and her passion for radiation protection research has always stood out,” reflects Filip Vanhavere, Radiation Protection Research Coordinator at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre who worked with Rizk on an IAEA mission to the Lebanese laboratory.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ihsaan Bassier, Researcher in Economics, University of Surrey
Why do women earn less than men? The usual suspects – occupation, hours, experience – explain some of it. But a powerful, often overlooked reason is simply this: where women work. The companies that hire them play a huge role in shaping their lifetime earnings.
South Africa has a severe gender pay gap, much of which is unexplained by worker characteristics such as occupation, skills or experience.
In our new study published in the Journal of Development Economics, using tax data on the universe of formal workers in South Africa, we uncover a striking fact: nearly half of the gender pay gap in South Africa is explained by women working at lower-paying companies than men. That is, more women tend to work at companies that pay all workers less.
In addition, this phenomenon evolves dramatically over a woman’s life.
We tracked millions of workers between 2010 and 2018 using tax data. We wanted to figure out how much money different companies paid, relative to each other, regardless of the type of worker. To do this, we compared what two companies pay the same worker. We looked at workers who switched companies and compared how their pay changed when they moved to a new company. By doing this for many workers and many companies, we could see how much more or less that company tends to pay people with the same kind of background or job.
In the formal sector in South Africa, women, on average, get paid 12% less than men. We find that about 45% of this gap – 5.5 percentage points – is due to women being concentrated in firms that pay less overall (to both women and men).
This isn’t because women are paid less within the same company — that kind of direct discrimination plays a much smaller role. Instead, it’s largely about sorting: women and men end up at different companies, and those pay differently.
Women disproportionately enter lower-paying sectors such as education, retail, or personal care, while men are over-represented in high-premium sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing.
As labour and development economists, we argue that reducing the gender pay gap takes more than putting women into male-dominated jobs or promoting equal pay for equal work. It means tackling the invisible structures that steer women into lower-paying companies.
A gender gap that grows, then shrinks
What’s particularly revealing is how the firm-pay gap changes across the life cycle. For workers in their early twenties, this gap is almost nonexistent. But from the mid-20s to the mid-40s — roughly the child-rearing years — the gap widens significantly.
Why does this happen?
First, women who remain continuously employed through their 30s tend to move to worse-paying firms than men, even though they switch jobs at similar rates.
Second, women entering or re-entering formal work (after a spell of unemployment or informal work) tend to start at lower-paying firms than men. This disadvantage when re-entering contributes to the overall gap, but is more constant over the life cycle.
Interestingly, churn (moving in and out of employment) is common — but men and women do it at similar rates. The key difference is what type of firm they land in when they return. Nearly half the gap among entrants is explained by industry sorting — women disproportionately enter lower-paying sectors such as education, retail, or personal care, while men are overrepresented in high-premium sectors like construction, mining, and manufacturing.
This isn’t because women have less (or different) skills. That might be another contributor to the overall gender gap in pay, but it’s not what we looked at. This is the pay disadvantage that women face from being at firms that pay less for the same job or skill.
The firms that women join tend to be in lower-paying industries, have fewer resources, and are less likely to be covered by collective bargaining agreements (union-negotiated industry wages) that boost pay.
Just like women leave or re-enter formal jobs at the same rates as men, they are in fact just as likely to switch jobs when employed. The problem then is that their job switches are less likely to lead to upward moves in the pay hierarchy, possibly due to employer discrimination or a need to prioritise non-pay job characteristics (like flexibility).
Then something remarkable happens. As women age into their late 40s and 50s, the gender gap begins to close. They start making more advantageous moves than men. This is likely because, having been sorted into lower-paying firms earlier in their careers, they have more room to climb. And with child-related constraints easing later in life, they finally can.
One instructive exception is the public sector, where the state has actively pursued gender equity in hiring. Public administration employs a much higher share of women than men and offers relatively high pay premia.
In developing countries especially, where formality is limited and transitions into good jobs are harder, policy can focus on easing women’s access to high-paying companies.
This can mean policies that support childcare, promote flexibility without penalising pay, or reduce discrimination in hiring. Otherwise, sorting into low-paying firms will keep reproducing the gender pay gap, one job move at a time.
– Why are women paid less than men? New research in South Africa shows the company you work for makes the biggest difference – https://theconversation.com/why-are-women-paid-less-than-men-new-research-in-south-africa-shows-the-company-you-work-for-makes-the-biggest-difference-254221
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Matteo Rizzo, Senior Lecturer in Development Studies, SOAS, University of London
Informal street food caterers, popularly known as chop bars, are a key feature of Ghanaian city life. They offer the urban poor the cheapest food.
A 2016 survey by the Food and Agriculture Organization estimated there were about 3,300 chop bars in the capital, Accra, employing almost 4,300 workers. This figure is likely to be much higher now due to rapid urban growth in the last decade. Ghana’s urban population increased from 50.9% in 2010 to 56.7% in 2021. By the same year the Greater Accra region was home to 91.7% of the urban population in the country.
Street food caterers in Accra face a number of problems, including insecurity of land tenure, inadequate knowledge of food hygiene, harassment from local authorities, cut-throat competition, and low returns from work.
Foreign donors have over the years stepped in to attempt to address these problems. A flagship of this assistance has been a programme funded by Danish trade unions and the Danish Federation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Under its aegis, Ghana’s Trades Union Congress was able to support workers in chop bars.
Drawing on our expertise on trade unions in Ghana and on the informal economy, we assessed the effectiveness and strategic relevance of this aid.
The aid focused on entrepreneurial skills and micro-credit. This overlooks some of the real problems in the sector. It leaves wage workers in a precarious position and does nothing to boost demand for what the sector supplies. We argue that to be more effective, foreign aid should address these gaps.
Entrepreneurial pipe dreams
Increased donor attention to workers in the informal economy and trade unions could be seen as a positive trend. After all, this is where the majority of workers in African cities are to be found. Ghana’s official statistical service places the size of the country’s informal sector between 70% and 80% of the working populace in its reports from 2024.
However, close examination of the type of support given, and its results, yields a more sobering picture.
Aid focused firstly on capacity building and entrepreneurship. This aimed at boosting skills such as financial literacy and capacity to care for customers. The programme’s own evaluation highlights the increased confidence that chop bar operators gained through this training. Important as this might be, increased confidence can do very little to overcome structural challenges, like intense competition in an oversupplied sector and the insecurity of land tenure.
A second area of support was the provision of micro-credit via the Trades Union Congress (Ghana). One could argue that it boosted the creditworthiness of informal economy operators. But there is evidence, including our study, that credit can often result in a spiral of debt and “poverty finance”.
Donors chose to focus on small-scale entrepreneurs as the only economic actors in the informal economy. This reflects an ideological, and market fundamentalist, understanding of the informal economy as inhabited only by small enterprises and self-employed workers, and the challenge as one of making the market work better for the poor.
The blind spots of donors’ support to the informal economy
This approach by donors neglects informal and highly precarious wage workers within the chop bar sector. Our research shows that the chop bar industry is stratified in terms of class. Within it, alongside genuine self-employed workers, there are people who own relatively small-scale capital (cooking assets and in some cases the land and buildings in which the bars are based) and who employ informal wage workers.
The informal workforce is by and large made up of migrant female workers with relatively low education and skill. They work without contracts, for very long hours and very low wages, and face the risk of sudden dismissal and harassment from employers. Such poor working conditions stem from the lack of contracts, and of the rights that come with them. This is the weakest category of workers in the industry – yet they have no place in donors’ and trade unions’ activities to support workers.
The main limitation of donors’ aid to the chop bar sector is that it focuses exclusively on supply-side interventions. It is based on the idea that improving skills and access to finance will result in increased demand for the services of small-scale entrepreneurs. Many aid programmes on employment make this mistake and suffer from so called “employment dementia” .
This type of aid doesn’t ask where the stimulus to increase demand for street food will come from, or what the structural roots of urban employment challenges are. It doesn’t consider why African cities have large informal economies and poor-quality jobs.
Aid priorities
Donors should re-think their aid priorities, and put informal wage workers at their centre. This would entail moving away from the current focus on micro-solutions for job creation, and instead supporting policies to promote structural change, to tighten labour markets and increase the demand for good-quality jobs within them.
This article was co-authored with Dr Prince Asafu-Adjaye, an associate of Labour Research Service.
– Informal workers in Ghana’s chop bars get no benefit from foreign aid: donors are getting it wrong – https://theconversation.com/informal-workers-in-ghanas-chop-bars-get-no-benefit-from-foreign-aid-donors-are-getting-it-wrong-253633
Source: African Development Bank Group The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has a new five-year Country Strategy Paper (2025-2030) for Nigeria, committing about $650 million annually to drive economic transformation, build resilience, and foster broad-based prosperity across the country.
Over 600 suspects were arrested in Operation Shanela in the North West, said the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police operations in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies that ran from 21-27 April, led to the arrest of 667 suspects.
“The operations, which were conducted under Operation Shanela resulted in the arrest of 667 suspects and recoveries of among others, 12 rounds of ammunition, drugs, three shotguns, 57 cell phones, liquor and other contraband such as cigarettes.
“Out of the 667 suspects, 35 were nabbed for driving under influence of alcohol or drugs, seven for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, 56 for possession of drugs, 17 for illegal dealing in liquor, 69 for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH), 41 for common assault, five for murder and 14 for burglaries at residential and business premises,” said the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the North West.
The operations covered all the province’s districts and included the setting of roadblocks on all the national and provincial arterial roads, tracing of wanted suspects, stop and searches and compliance inspections at liquor selling outlets and closing of unlicensed liquor premises.
The Anti-Gang Unit arrested three Lesotho foreign nationals on Friday, 25 April 2025, after being found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
The first suspect was arrested for illegal possession of a Norinco firearm with eight rounds of ammunition.
The other two suspects, Seronthe Thipe, and Thabo Mphinyame, were found in possession of an unlicensed revolver, four rounds of ammunition and spent 9mm cartridge.
All three accused: Rethabile Ntoyi, 39, Nthipu, 30, and Thabo Mphinyame, 40 appeared in the Orkney Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
“They were all remanded in custody until Friday, 09 May 2025, for further investigation,” said the SAPS.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police in the North West, Major General Patrick Asaneng has called on communities in the Matlosana Municipality including community policing forums and ward councillors not to harbour illegal foreigners who are in the main involved is serious violent crimes such as murders, robberies and damage of essential infrastructure.
“These suspects are often arrested in possession of illegal firearms including automatic rifles smuggled into area and which are not traceable due to them not being in the Central Registry database,” said Asaneng. –SAnews.gov.za
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed former Director-General (DG) of the Department of Trade and Industry, Dr Alistair Ruiters, as Special Advisor: Investment Promotion.
“Dr Ruiters will advise President Ramaphosa on South Africa’s continuing investment drive, which is a principal component of the 7th Administration’s focus on inclusive economic growth and job creation.
“Government is implementing a broad range of economic reforms aimed at rendering South Africa more attractive and rewarding for domestic and international investors; advancing greater diversification of the economy, and broadening South Africa’s integration into continental and global supply chains,” the Presidency said in a statement.
Ruiters, who is an accomplished business leader, also boasts experience in the public service.
“He holds a D Philosophy degree from Oxford University and a BA Honours from the University of Cape Town, among other qualifications.
“Dr Ruiters is a former Commissioner of the Competition Commission who, as an entrepreneur, established a number of businesses, and served as Chief Executive and Chairperson of diverse institutions and enterprises, including the National Empowerment Fund, Pebble Bed Modular Reactor and the Afarak Group,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
To strengthen rural economies, fight poverty, and ensure food security in the province, the MEC for North West Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, officially presented a modern poultry facility to an emerging farmer.
The 5 000-layer poultry structure was handed over to Sibongile Gumede of Bongi G Farm, located in Lindequesdrift, as part of the fourth phase of the Accelerated Service Delivery Programme at the JB Marks Municipality.
According to the provincial government, the facility will enable Bongi G Farm to scale up egg production significantly, contributing to local food supply chains and creating employment opportunities within the province.
Bongi G is an enterprise dedicated to producing naturally grown, free-range poultry and eggs.
The farm’s eggs undergo regular grading by the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) to ensure quality.
Sambatha emphasised empowering small-scale farmers with the infrastructure and resources necessary for sustainable growth.
“The handover is not just about providing a farm, it’s about creating growth opportunities, ensuring food security, and nurturing the essence of entrepreneurship within farmers,” the MEC added.
He further encouraged Bongi G to utilise the resources they are available responsibly and continue working towards sustainable agricultural practices that will benefit future generations.
Speaking about receiving the state-of-the-art poultry structure, Gumede said: “I am beyond grateful to the department for this opportunity. I am now able to sustain myself, create jobs, and, through the progress I have made, I have even managed to build a 3 000-layer structure on my own.“
The department said the handover of the farm marks a momentous breakthrough in the province’s ongoing efforts to promote agricultural development, empowering local farmers and strengthening the agricultural sector, whilst ensuring that local farmers have the tools and support they need to thrive. – SAnews.gov.za
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has welcomed the Easter Road Safety report, which reveals a significant 42% decline in road fatalities across the province during the holiday period.
According to the report released by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, on Tuesday, road fatalities in the province had dropped from 52 last year to 22 in 2025 during Easter.
Nationally, fatalities dropped from 307 in 2024 to 167 in 2025 – a 45% decrease.
“The significant drop in road carnage is a clear indicator that early planning, integrated operations, and people-centred communication can deliver life-saving results,” Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi said in a statement.
The provincial government indicated that the sustained road safety campaign is at the core of the reduced fatalities.
“This achievement is not only a reflection of intensified and coordinated law enforcement efforts on high-risk corridors, but also of the success of Gauteng’s early and sustained road safety campaign – rolled out under the national banner of ‘E Thoma Ka Wena, It Starts With You’.
“This flagship campaign saw coordination from various multi-disciplinary forces across the province, including sharing public preventable ways to avoid distractions that leads to fatalities on the roads. As the province with the highest concentration, the [provincial Transport] department took a comprehensive and integrated approach in infrastructure development and enforcement to influence behaviour,” the provincial government said.
The Easter road safety campaign is expected to end next Sunday.
“The MEC of Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela urges all road users to continue abiding by the rules of the road and avoid driving under the influence. The Easter Road Safety campaign will end on 4 May 2025 due to the high number of long weekends during this period,” the provincial government said. – SAnews.gov.za
Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DJCOD) Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi will, on Saturday, preside over the handover and reburial ceremony of the exhumed remains of political activists who were hanged on death row for politically related offences.
The two activists are Benjamin Malesella Moloise and Abram Zakhele Mngomezulu who were executed by the Apartheid government during the 1980s.
“Benjamin Moloise, an activist of [the] ANC [African National Congress], was convicted in 1983 and executed in 1985 for the 1982 assassination of a security policeman. He denied any involvement, claiming his confession was made under duress. The ANC consistently maintained his innocence.
“Abram Mngomezulu, also an activist of the ANC, was executed on 25 May 1989 after being convicted for the 1987 murder of Mandla Khoza during a rent boycott protest in Soweto. He was sentenced to death, while four teenage co-accused received prison terms ranging from 8 to 15 years,” the department said in a statement.
The DJCOD described the handover and reburial service as “solemn and historic.”
“[The] handover and reburial…marks an important milestone in South Africa’s ongoing journey towards healing, justice, and reconciliation. Between 1960 and 1990, at least 130 individuals were executed on death row for politically motivated offences.
“At the time, the state withheld their remains, denying families the opportunity to mourn and bury their loved ones with dignity. These individuals were interred as paupers in cemeteries around Tshwane, without the knowledge or consent of their families.
“The upcoming ceremony will formally return the remains to their families, offering long-overdue closure and recognition of the ultimate sacrifices made in the struggle for freedom. The department, on behalf of the State, remains firmly committed to advancing justice, fostering national healing, and preserving the dignity of those who paid the highest price in the fight against apartheid,” the department said.
The ceremony will be held from 9am at the Orlando Communal Hall in Soweto on Saturday. – SAnews.gov.za
In a drive to turn around municipal service delivery, the Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, will lead a high-level oversight visit to the Sekhukhune District Municipality today.
The visit forms part of CoGTA’s national campaign: “Every Municipality Must Work” – an initiative aimed at speeding up service delivery and breathing new life into municipalities.
Limpopo MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Basikopo Rogers Makamu, will join Masemola on the visit.
“The visit is aligned with the implementation of the District Development Model (DDM) – a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach designed to ensure coordinated planning, integrated service delivery, and holistic development across all spheres of government,“ the department explained.
The DDM, a flagship government strategy, focuses on collaborative planning and action, particularly in municipalities that face challenges in governance and service delivery.
During the visit, Masemola and Makamu are expected to meet with local government officials, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders to assess how the municipality is functioning.
“The oversight visit will further serve as a strategic platform for collaborative problem-solving, to identify actionable solutions, catalysing innovation, and unlocking socio-economic opportunities within the district,” the department said. – SAnews.gov.za
Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, has affirmed government’s commitment to provide dignified sanitation facilities to communities of Chris Hani District Municipality, Eastern Cape.
As part of the government’s ongoing efforts to ensure sanitation dignity for all citizens, the Department of Water and Sanitation, officially handed over 403 newly constructed Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilet structures for households in three villages within the Emalahleni Local Municipality, Chris Hani District Municipality.
Majodina, alongside the Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, officially handed over the VIP toiles to the residents in Fani, Ntsinga, and Maqhubela villages.
The R11 million project was funded through the Department of Water and Sanitation’s Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG), as part of the department’s role to support municipalities to meet their constitutional obligations of provision of dignified sanitation and accelerate the eradication of sanitation backlog.
The sanitation project, implemented by Chris Hani District, which is the Water Services Authority, commenced in November 2023 and concluded in May 2024.
The construction of the VIP toilets underscores the department’s unwavering commitment to restoring dignity, protecting public health, and advancing equitable access to basic sanitation services, particularly in rural and historically underserved communities.
The project included floor slab, galvanised steel door, pedestal, vent pipe, and hand-wash facility.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Majodina raised concerns over the lack of proper planning for the project, forcing the department to return to the area to ensure the completion of other ongoing projects, so that the residents finally receive fully functioning flushing toilets in their homes.
The Minister also emphasised the need for intergovernmental working relations with other departments to take a holistic approach to home building.
She underscored a need for the Departments of Water and Sanitation, Human Settlements, and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), to work together to assist municipalities to ensure that the erected houses have adequate infrastructure for water supply that will “eventually guarantee that the houses have waterborne toilets.”
“Having enough water in the dam does not mean there’s water coming out of the taps in some communities if the value chain is not aligned. The communities are asking for water, and that is why we are working together to ensure that there is service delivery,” Majodina said.
Xonxa pump station repairs near completion
Meanwhile, the Xonxa Pump Station is nearing completion, with repair works currently at 73% and expected to be completed by June 2025.
Ahead of the formal VIP toilet handover ceremony, the Minister conducted an oversight visit to the Xonxa Pump Station, as well as the Machibini and Ilinge Reticulation Projects.
These projects are integral to the broader strategy to enhance water security and ensure a more reliable and consistent water supply for the residents of Emalahleni Municipality, and the surrounding areas.
The upgrades to the Machibini and Ilinge water reticulation systems were completed in January 2025.
During the visit, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the overall progress but raised concerns over the continued lack of water access for residents living near major dams.
She urged the Chris Hani District Municipality to prioritise the next phase of water reticulation projects in the area, to ensure that all residents receive adequate water supply in their homes.
Mabuyane echoed the Ministers sentiments, adding that the projects should start and finish on time, and be within budget.
The Premier said the project delays only lead to a lack of service delivery to the communities.
“We are quite happy with the progress made. I am quite happy with the innovation and creativity. But as the Minister says, it is not always an issue of water resource availability, sometimes it is an issue of capacity to reticulate.
“There is however progress on implementing reticulation projects that will ensure sustainable water supply to communities,” the Premier said.
The day concluded with an engagement with the community of Indwe, where the Minister listened and responded to concerns about lack of water and proper toilet facilities. – SAnews.gov.za
The eyes of the world are firmly focused on South Africa as President of the G20 and the host nation of the G20 Summit in November.
This gathering will see the country welcoming over 40 global heads of state to our shores. The G20 accounts for 85 percent of the global economy, 75 percent of international trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
The summit will be held under the theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”, which aligns with our vision of inclusive growth, where all individuals and nations benefit from economic progress.
As the first African nation to host the G20, South Africa will highlight issues such as economic inequality, development, climate change, and fair-trade practices. The platform of the G20 will also help to further connect countries on the continent and beyond.
The G20 is centred on creating a secure foundation for global economic stability, which is a vital catalyst for economic development and in implementing far-reaching global commitments such as the Pact for the Future and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030).
Our hosting of the G20 Summit is an opportunity to showcase all that South Africa offers to the world. This includes strengthening our brand as a tourism and business events destination.
The latest International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA) rankings affirmed South Africa, as the leading business events destination in Africa and the Middle East. South Africa is renowned for its exceptional ability of hosting world-class, high-profile international events, such as the BRICS Summit. In 2023 we hosted the Netball World Cup, and in 2010 we become the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup. These and a myriad of other successful events have cemented our reputation of being able to host safe and successful global events.
We have also worked to make our country more accessible to international and continental visitors. South Africa has visa waivers for travellers from 132 countries for periods of between 30 and 90 days and our e-Visa system is available to travellers from 34 countries. The Department of Home Affairs also introduced an online e-Visa application system which has simplified the visa process for travellers from eligible countries.
Speaking at the World Tradeshow 2024, the Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, emphasised that travellers to the country will be greeted by world class travel infrastructure with active international routes connecting 72 cities worldwide, serviced by 55 airlines, offering over 7,8million seats across over 52,000 flights scheduled for 2024.
The attention generated by the G20 is expected to attract visitors from around the world and will boost international tourism in the years to come. Over 200 meetings are expected to take place in South Africa which present opportunities for the country’s tourism, manufacturing, trade and other investment growth. The approximately 200 meetings will be spread across the different provinces of the country, and the tourism industry will see direct benefits with increased bookings for meeting venues and private tours.
The G20 Summit promises to have an economic ripple effect as local businesses will also receive a boost – contributing to sustaining jobs and growth in the tourism sector and other sectors. Furthermore, South Africa is an attractive destination for business services, and has sophisticated digital infrastructure, including mobile networks and high-speed broadband.
Our hosting of the G20 will reinforce the country’s stature as an attractive and reliable destination for tourism related to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). This will boost not only business events sector but also the greater South African tourism sector. The South African MICE industry was valued at R121.8 billion in 2023, and it is projected to grow fourfold over the next eight years, reaching R477.9 billion by 2032.
A number of successful G20 meetings have already been held, including the high profile first Foreign Ministers Meeting, and the first Finance and Central Bank Ministerial Meeting. As part of efforts to showcase our nation to the world, G20 meetings are being hosted across the country.
Recently South Africa was crowned the friendliest country in the world according to a global study by international money transfer service Remitly. In its report Remitly said: “Residents are known for being warm and welcoming, making it easy for travellers and visitors to feel at ease around them.”
Let us therefore continue to live up to this reputation by welcoming visitors from around the world with our unique brand of home-grown hospitality. Let us show visitors all that our beautiful country has to offer, and make sure that every visitor leaves our shores with cherished memories and joyful hearts.
*Sandile Nene is the Acting Deputy Director-General for Content Processing and Dissemination in the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).