SME Linkages Push: Zimbabwe says large industrial investment must translate into local supply chains, but a 2025 survey finds only 7% of firms report strong linkages—highlighting a big gap between policy and practice. Manufacturing Momentum: South Africa’s Manufacturing Indaba 2026 (July 14–15) will spotlight how AfCFTA can scale “Made in Africa” production, localisation and trade. Agri-SME Funding Support: Uganda’s Pearl Bank and Ronalds in Africa wrapped a 3-day bootcamp for 30+ agribusinesses, urging farmers to use available financing to scale value addition. Returnees Start Small: Uganda urges repatriated citizens from South Africa to rebuild via small-scale processing businesses like honey, cocoa, shea butter, tailoring and cassava starch. VAT Refund Pressure: Trinidad & Tobago manufacturers are demanding urgent action on a VAT refund backlog, warning delays are choking reinvestment and jobs. Cyber & Payments Security: Visa launches a threat intelligence platform to help banks spot cyber incidents earlier—aiming to stop fraud before it hits transactions. Fintech Shift to AI: OPay argues AI will be the next engine for Africa’s fintech growth, moving beyond basic payments toward inclusion, fraud-fighting and credit access. SME Confidence Cools: South Africa’s SME confidence drops amid fuel and global uncertainty, with rising fuel costs cited as a direct operational squeeze. Cross-Border Business Payments: Accrue launches Accrue Business, letting SMEs hold and move stablecoins for faster, cheaper international payments and supplier payouts. Local Commerce Trust Signals (Nigeria): A Nigerian market insight argues that “the name on the door” can function as trust and a practical substitute for weak enforcement and credit systems.