The Ontario government is investing an additional $30 million to support businesses, workers, and communities dependent on the province’s forest sector. This funding will focus on building and maintaining forestry access roads and providing immediate assistance to sawmills in finding new markets for their woodchips. These measures aim to strengthen the forestry sector, create jobs,… [Read More]
Business
Health Minister Hails Move to Remove Tobacco and Nicotine Products from Vending Machines
The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has welcomed the upcoming ban on the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products through self-service and vending machines, effective from September 29, 2025. This measure, part of the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, aims to reduce the availability of harmful products and… [Read More]
Advancing Cooperative Data: ILO Introduces Information Guide and Pilot Findings
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released two new publications aimed at improving the measurement of cooperatives globally: Measuring Cooperatives (Second Edition) and Implementing the ILO Guidelines Concerning Statistics of Cooperatives: Insights from Five Countries. Both publications draw on pilot studies conducted in Costa Rica, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and the United Republic… [Read More]
Central African Republic Focuses on National Wealth for Sustainable Growth
After two years of weak growth, the Central African Republic is showing signs of a moderate economic recovery, with growth estimated at 1.5% in 2024, according to a recent World Bank report. This improvement is driven by stable agricultural production, progress in agribusiness, and sustained performance in tertiary activities, supported by enhanced energy supply toward… [Read More]
Exim Bank Tanzania Receives $10M Trade Finance Guarantee from AfDB for SMEs
The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $10 million trade finance guarantee facility for Exim Bank Tanzania Limited to unlock and de-risk trade transactions. The facility will provide up to 100 percent guarantees to international confirming banks against the risk of non-payment, enabling Exim Bank to expand access to essential imports… [Read More]
India and EU Launch Ideathon to Combat Marine Plastic Litter
The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched as a joint initiative by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, with support from the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group on Green and Clean Energy Technologies. The… [Read More]
EIB Group Approves €7.1 Billion Financing to Boost European Tech, Energy Security, Defence, and Ukraine Support
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have approved €7.1 billion in new financing to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership, energy security, and infrastructure. The funding will also back projects for climate adaptation, urban development in Italy, business support in Spain, and sustainable transport in Greece. Additionally, the Boards approved significant investments… [Read More]
From Violence to Empowerment: Rhoda’s Inspiring Journey of Survival
In December 2019, Rhoda Chechepus narrowly escaped a life-threatening fire set in her hut by her husband, a culmination of years of domestic violence. At the age of 32, the mother of three from Katukumwok village in Amudat District carries both physical and emotional scars, which ultimately motivated her to leave the abusive marriage six… [Read More]
Breaking Barriers to Financing Digital Inclusion: Join the Global Conversation
Nearly one-third of the global population has never accessed the internet, with rural and marginalized urban communities, particularly in the Global South, being the most affected. Groups facing systemic barriers, including women, Indigenous peoples, and low-income populations, are disproportionately excluded, highlighting the urgent need for equitable digital access. Despite sufficient resources existing to close these… [Read More]
DBS Foundation Grants SGD 4.5 Million to 22 Businesses, Empowering 4 from India
DBS Foundation (DBSF) has selected 22 Businesses for Impact (BFIs) across its key markets, including four enterprises from India, to receive funding under its Annual Grant Award programme. Chosen from over 1,500 applicants, the cohort will receive a total of SGD 4.5 million to scale their businesses and support communities in need. The impact from… [Read More]
Peru Partners with IDB to Advance Fiscal Reforms and Stimulate Economic Growth
Peru has secured a $550 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to implement fiscal reforms designed to stimulate economic growth by enhancing productivity and encouraging private investment. This operation is the first of two under a broader program aimed at addressing structural gaps in state capacity. The reforms focus on strengthening fiscal policy… [Read More]
COP30 Brazil: A Potential Turning Point for the Planet’s Climate Future
COP30, scheduled for November 2025 in Belém, Brazil, is poised to be a pivotal moment for global climate action. It will be the first major summit following the Paris Agreement’s Global Stocktake at COP28, signaling a shift from pledges to concrete delivery. Observers note that Belém will test whether the climate community can transform promises… [Read More]
Mitsubishi Estate to Invest £800 Million, Creating 4,000 Jobs in UK Creative Industries
Mitsubishi Estate has announced an £800 million investment to transform the former ITV Studio on London’s Southbank into a major hub for the creative industries, creating 4,000 new jobs. The redevelopment, named ‘Vista,’ will provide 600,000 square feet of commercial and cultural space, including 40,000 square feet of affordable workspace designed to support Lambeth’s emerging… [Read More]
Empowering Migrant Workers in Thailand’s Rubber Sector with Labour Rights and Social Protection
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is collaborating with Thailand’s rubber sector to strengthen social protection for migrant workers and promote responsible business practices across the industry. A workshop held in Rayong on 25 September 2025 brought together over 100 participants from plantations, processing plants, manufacturing facilities, and related sectors nationwide to enhance understanding of labour… [Read More]
Start Your Business Programme: Helping Indonesian Workers Build Retirement Independence
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI)-ASEAN Trade Union Confederation (ATUC), is supporting Indonesian workers in preparing for retirement through entrepreneurship training. Many workers face uncertainty about their financial security as they approach retirement, with savings or social protection schemes often insufficient to ensure a stable… [Read More]
Riding the Waves: Tanzanian Women Empowered Through Surfing
At sunrise, Halima wades into the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, carrying bundles of rope that will become underwater seaweed gardens. For Halima and thousands of other women along Zanzibar’s coastline, these submerged plots are far more than an agricultural activity—they are a source of independence, a way to fund their children’s education, and… [Read More]
New World Bank Initiative to Modernize Indonesia’s Power Grid and Expand Access
The World Bank has approved the Indonesia Electricity Network Transformation (I-ENET) Program, a US$500 million initiative aimed at modernizing the electricity distribution system in the Java, Madura, and Bali regions. The program will support Indonesia’s energy sector development by expanding renewable energy integration and accelerating the digital transformation of the electricity grid, aligning with the… [Read More]
Bank of America Pledges $12 Million to Aid Western North Carolina Hurricane Helene Recovery
Bank of America has announced $12 million in zero-interest loans to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to support homeowner recovery and small business assistance in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The funds will be managed through three key CDFIs actively involved in the region’s disaster recovery efforts. Self-Help Ventures Fund (SHVF) will receive $8… [Read More]
Bank of America Pledges $1 Million+ to Aid Hill Country Flood Relief via Liftfund
LiftFund, a leading nonprofit small business lender, has received a major commitment from Bank of America to aid small businesses recovering from the July floods in Texas’s Hill Country. The contribution includes $1 million in lending capital and an additional $100,000 to support LiftFund’s disaster relief operations, bringing the total funds raised for the relief… [Read More]
Libya Moves Forward on Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Transition
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union Delegation to Libya, in partnership with Libya’s Ministry of Oil and Gas, launched the “Just and Sustainable Energy Transition” Conference under the EU-funded “Support to Energy Transition and Climate Change Mitigation in Libya” project. The conference is part of ongoing efforts by national and international… [Read More]
Life is Easy in Digital’ Project Empowers Women Entrepreneurs with Grants for Digital Growth
The 2025 cycle of the “Life is Easy in Digital” Project, implemented by Türk Telekom, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Habitat Association, has opened applications for its mentorship and grant program. The initiative aims to equip women entrepreneurs with essential digital skills,… [Read More]
India-EU Ideathon Launches to Tackle Marine Plastic Litter under TTC Working Group 2
The India-EU Ideathon on “Combating Marine Plastic Litter” was officially launched on 25th September 2025, jointly organised by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India and the Delegation of the European Union to India, under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council Working Group 2 on Green and Clean Energy… [Read More]
Palestine’s Local Businesses to Benefit from €400M EIB and European Commission Support
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Commission have signed a €400 million financing facility with the Palestine Monetary Authority to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian private sector. Announced at the UN General Assembly in New York, the initiative will improve access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and… [Read More]
