AGP Executive Report
Last update: 8 hours agoOil & Gas Licensing: Sao Tomé and Príncipe has launched a fast-track licensing round for three ultra-deepwater blocks west of the islands (Blocks 7, 8 and 9), with bids due by 30 June and a $25,000 payment required; stakes can reach 85% with 15% reserved for the state, and the blocks sit near recent drilling activity by Shell and TotalEnergies. Trade Integration Push: A new Mo Ibrahim Foundation report says intra-Africa commerce could jump to 53% if the AfCFTA is fully implemented, but progress is held back by mobility bottlenecks—only four countries, including São Tomé and Príncipe, have ratified the AU’s 2018 Free Movement of Persons Protocol. Regional Mobility Reality Check: The same report highlights that just 28% of Africans can enter other African countries without a visa, keeping travel costly and slow. Business Spotlight: In a separate win for the country’s brand pull, a Scottish chocolatier’s award-winning truffles use single-origin cocoa from São Tomé. Digital Finance Regulation: The Neves Licensing Authority flags rising demand for specialized licensing frameworks as fintech expands across borders and platforms.
Note: AI summary from news headlines; neutral sources weighted more to help reduce bias in the result.