To The Point: Recent Episodes
Norwegian-African Business Association (Naba) - Nurmara
No-nonsense views and analysis about the key news stories driving the business agenda in Africa - brought to you by the Norwegian-African Business Association and Nurmara
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Terje Osmundsen, CEO of Empower New Energy, about new realities shaping the continent's economic and geopolitical landscape, and how to scale up mutually beneficial investment from Norwegian companies.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Nikolai Astrup, a member of the Norwegian Parliament, and a former Minister of International Development of Norway.
We discuss the implications of a rapidly changing global economic order, the dangers of increasingly tense geopolitical competition, and the opportunities all of this presents to drive stronger cooperation between Norway and African economies, and to scale up investment across the continent.
On this episode we speak with Akinwole Omoboriowo II, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Energy Group - an Energy Infrastructure Development, Climate Impact Investment and Asset Management Group of Companies focused on Africa.
We discuss the changing narrative about Africa and its climate change challenge, the changing landscape for climate-financing and investment on the continent, and how global geopolitics is shaping the energy sector.
The race for Africa’s critical minerals is on. On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Bady Baldé, Deputy Executive Director of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), about how the continent can “get it right” to drive investment and sustainable development, and move up the value chain.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Terje Pilskog, CEO of Norway's Scatec ASA, a leading renewable energy investor in Africa. We discuss Africa's role in the global energy transition, the opportunities for renewables on the continent, and how to ramp up financing for the sector.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Wale Shonibare, Director – Energy Financial Solutions, Policy and Regulation, at the African Development Bank (AfDB) about what is holding back Africa's vast energy potential, and more importantly, what can be, or is being done to unlock it.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Norway's Minister of International Development, H.E. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, about the opportunities and challenges of development amid rapid global change, Africa's growing international importance, the green transition, and how to drive private investment!
On this episode of the NABA Perspectives Podcast we speak with Robert Besseling, CEO & Founder of Pangea-Risk. We discuss Africa’s evolving risk landscape, amid rising global instability and conflict, as well as persistent economic uncertainty, and what this means for doing business on the continent.
Robert argues that, while the risks faced by the continent are very real, a nuanced and data-driven approach is needed to effectively navigate the continent, and harness the many opportunities it presents.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Erik Solheim, Norway's former Minister of International Development and Minister of the Environment, as well as former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme .
We discuss Africa's role in an emerging multipolar world order, why the continent should not "choose sides" as it navigates a more complex and diverse international landscape, and why it could be the next Asia in global growth and development.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak to Chipokota Mwanawasa, Policy Advisor to the President of Zambia and Deputy Head of The Zambian President’s Delivery Unit, about the country's recent economic turnaround.
We explore what is driving Zambia's economic revival, and what the future holds for the country, which is fast becoming an important investment destination in Southern Africa.
This week we discuss growing economic and diplomatic ties between Germany and African economies, and the opportunities for mutually beneficial investment, with Christoph Kannengießer, the CEO of Afrika-Verein
https://www.afrikaverein.de/
To learn more about NABA and what we do, visit out website: https://norwegianafrican.no/
An estimated 567m people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to power according to the UN, accounting for more than 80% of the global total. What is holding back electrification on the continent, and how can progress be accelerated? We discuss this critical challenge with Hitesh Kumbhat, Chief Financial Officer at Kalpataru Power Transmission Sweden, who argues that without a step change in policy, Africa's electrification crisis could be here for decades.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we discuss the political crisis in Senegal, triggered by president Macky Sall's decision to postpone presidential elections originally scheduled to take place on February 25, 2024. Joining us to discuss the origins of the crisis, as well as its political and economic implications, is Martin Roberts, a principal analyst in Country Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence.
This week we speak with Tellef Thorleifsson, the CEO of Norway's Development Finance Institution Norfund. We discuss the implications of a changing global order for the world of development finance, and for engagement with Africa.
This week we discuss the return of African sovereigns to the international capital markets, following an almost two-year hiatus due to tight financial conditions, debt distress concerns, and rate hikes. Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, and Kenya have started, and others are sure to follows.
In principle this is good news, but amid ongoing debt sustainability problems across the content, caution is advised, and lessons must be learned from previous missteps.
On this episode we discuss the political, economic, and geopolitical implications of what is being dubbed "West Africa's Brexit" -the announcement by Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali that they intend to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Our guest is Alex Vines, Research Director, and Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House.
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we discuss what's driving growth in Tanzania, how it can tackled economic headwinds, and why the country should be on the radar for investors. Our guests are Razia Khan, Head of Research for Africa, Middle East at Standard Chartered, and Sarah Baynton-Glen, Economist with Standard Chartered.
Despite the runaway success of Africa's mobile telecoms revolution, unlocking the true potential of the digital economy is easier said than done.
Why is the world so keen to engage with Africa? Are we seeing a "new scramble" for the continent, or new opportunities to drive economic development?
Is Africa destined to be a victim of Climate Change? Or can it drive both investment and action to tackle it globally?
Aviation has huge potential to drive trade, investment, and development. What's holding the sector back, and how can this potential be unlocked?
On this episode of NABA Perspectives we speak with Sanjeev Gupta, Board Member and Executive Director, Financial Services at the Africa Finance Corporation, about Africa's changing role in a multipolar world.
We look at the key issues to watch in 2024 - from debt and economic headwinds, to a busy election calendar, security, and the emergence of a multipolar world order.
As more and more African economies grapple with unsustainable debt, is the continent facing a new credit crisis? What can or must be done to avoid this?
On this episode of the podcast, we speak to speaking to Mallé Fofana, Director for Africa and Head of Programs at the Global Green Growth Institute. We discuss how Africa and the world can find more sustainable pathways to growth and economic development.
On this episode we speak to Felix Ndi-Obiosa, a lawyer with DLA piper who focuses on the energy sector. We discuss what a just energy transition in Africa might look like, and why the world needs a reality check about how the continent can and should power its economies.
On this episode of the NABA COP27 podcast we speak with Bertrand Piccard, a Swiss explorer, psychiatrist, and clean technology pioneer, who is the chairman of the SolarImpulse Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting environmentally sustainable and economically profitable solutions to climate change.
We discuss how technology, together with a change in mindset and approach can drive climate action globally, and in Africa.
On this episode of the NABA COP27 podcast we speakwith Terje Pilskog, the CEO of Scatec, a Norwegian renewable energy investor in emerging markets, which is the largest solar project developer in Africa. We discuss the prospects for renewable power investment on the continent, and how COP27 can help to drive momentum in the sector.
On this episode of the NABA COP27 podcast we speak with Carlijn Nouwen, co-founder of the climate action platform for Africa. We discuss the dominant narrative about Africa and climate change, why it’s problematic, and how the story can move from one of victimhood, to opportunity and agency.
As part of our series looking at key issues shaping Africa's climate challenge, we speak with James Mwangi, founder of the Climate Action Platform for Africa, who gives us his take on why renewable energy, and fossil fuels, is the way forward for the continent.
In this first episode of our COP27 series, we speak with Bilha Dirangu, co-founder of Jacob's Ladder Africa, a youth-focused organisation dedicated to catalysing the creation of millions of jobs in the green economy over the next decade.
We look at how Africa can make the most of COP27 in Egypt, and explore whether this is indeed 'Africa's COP', or just COP in Africa.
Just how bad is Africa's unemployment problem, and what - if anything, can be done about it?
Following recent military coups in Guinea and Mali, there is growing anxiety about democratic backsliding in Africa. Is this justified?
Twenty years after the BRICS acronym was first used, what has been their impact on the global economy, and what is their significance to Africa?
This week we take a look at Chinese foreign direct investment into Africa, and explore why what you think you know about it is probably off the mark.
Regulating Social media is tricky business. We look at how government's are trying to do so, why it's not working, and how they might go about it differently.
Nigeria's president is appealing for help to tackle insecurity in Africa. Why? And will anyone listen?
This week we look at healthcare and prospects for the sector in the time of covid, demographic transitions and the question of how Africa can cash in on a demographic 'dividend', and the booming fintech space.
This week we look at Political turmoil in Tunisia, plans to revamp the US's Africa policy, and UK investment into Kenya.
We take a look at some of the interesting and important stories doing the rounds. We also speak to Patricia Rodrigues, East Africa Analyst at Control Risks, about recent events in Ethiopia.
In our first episode we look at the challenge of driving Africa's renewable energy transition. The continent is home to vast potential, but harnessing this is easier said than done.
Our guests for the show are:
Maximillian Jarrett - Africa Programme Manager at the International Energy Agency
Sanjeev Gupta - Executive Director for Financial Services at the Africa Finance Corporation
Raymond Carlsen - CEO of Scatec