SME Finance Push (Nigeria): The Development Bank of Nigeria says it has disbursed over N1tn to more than one million MSMEs, supporting 1.6m jobs, and plans to scale to 2m MSMEs with 2m direct and indirect jobs over five years. Trade & Cashflow (Africa): IFC and Standard Chartered launched a $300m risk-sharing facility to expand supply chain finance across eight countries, targeting faster supplier payments for SMEs. Digital Infrastructure for MSMEs (Ghana): Trident Digital Tech launched TDTHAI Africa, building on a Ghana Revenue Authority deployment aimed at MSME formalisation and digital tax, with a plan to expand AI-driven infrastructure opportunities. Fintech for Informal SMEs (Zimbabwe): SoshoPay says it helps banks finance informal businesses by linking solar and productive asset usage to repayment signals, aiming to close a large credit gap. Fuel Volatility (South Africa): Fuel price swings are pressuring cross-border traders’ costs from logistics to imported inputs, especially where the rand and US-dollar pricing amplify expenses. Local Business Safety (South Africa): Stellenbosch moved to suspend GoNow e-scooters after reported injuries, highlighting how micro-mobility rules can quickly affect small operators. Skills & Jobs (South Africa): President Ramaphosa flagged youth unemployment as a crisis and backed a R1tn three-year infrastructure push to create jobs. SME Market Access (India-Oman): India’s textiles and apparel get duty-free access under the India-Oman CEPA, opening new export opportunities for MSMEs. SME Talent & Recognition (South Africa): Applications opened for Artisans of Mzansi, offering up to R200,000 for qualified artisan business owners. Community & Local Commerce (Durban): The eThekwini Kota Festival is set to spotlight local kota vendors and small businesses at Moses Mabhida Stadium.