Industrial Push in DRC: Congo’s trade and industry ministers toured Lubumbashi, inaugurating new factories for underground electrical cables and square tubes to cut imports and boost jobs under AGOA-readiness plans. SME Export Boost (SA): Standard Bank expanded its Export Readiness Programme with DHL Express to Gauteng and the Western Cape, offering trade training, logistics know-how and export finance; applications close 10 July. SME Pressure (SA): South African SME confidence fell as fuel prices bite, with Business Partners reporting more firms shifting from growth to survival and cost control. City Jobs Plan (Cape Town): Cape Town approved an R868m budget for economic growth, aiming to attract investment, back businesses and shorten unemployment lines. SME Grants (Ghana): MTN Ghana awarded GHS150,000 to five SME pitch winners, pairing cash with digital tools to help them scale. Payments Shift (Africa): Flutterwave secured investment from Circle Ventures to embed USDC settlement into merchant payment flows, targeting faster, cheaper settlement for businesses. Crypto Wallet Adoption: Bitget Wallet hit 100m users, with daily payment users now outnumbering traders—especially across Africa and other emerging markets. Host City Prep (Durban): eThekwini will negotiate a Cricket World Cup 2027 host agreement, budgeting R600,000 for delivery and community legacy work. Spaza Support Update (SA): The Spaza Shop Support Fund has disbursed R179.6m and still has R320m available, but many applications were rejected for missing permits or licenses. Trade Reality Check: Africa-Europe volumes are rising, but SME forwarders say they’re not yet seeing the benefits in bookings. Security for Small Firms: A new “Gentlemen” ransomware report highlights how attackers can spread via network tools, a reminder to harden identity and recovery controls.