In partnership with the Foundation of Temasek, the Singapore sovereign wealth fund, ARISE is distributing 80 000 Covid-19 diagnostic tests in Gabon, Benin, Togo and Mauritania. This donation will enable these countries to carry out testing on a national scale and accelerate the screening process, thereby supporting the governments of these partner countries in their active fight against the virus.

As part of its commitment to the fight against the spread of Covid-19 in its countries of operation, ARISE is currently distributing virus testing kits in Gabon, Benin, Togo and Mauritania, with the support of the Temasek Foundation International, the foundation arm of Temasek, the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund. This most recent effort follows the large-scale distribution of medical equipment (protective masks and clothing, smart thermometers, thermographic cameras and disinfectant gels) across five West African countries between 29 March and 6 April this year. Thanks to this joint initiative, 80 000 Covid-19 screening tests will be carried out in these four countries where the pandemic is not yet under control.

Developed by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Singapore's Tan Tock Seng Hospital, the Fortitude Kit 2.0, which has already been deployed in some 20 countries, rapidly and accurately detects the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. Up to 200 tests can be performed using a single test kit, each of which comprises all of the equipment needed to administer a nasal swab and perform RT-PCR virology tests. The technology used in the Fortitude Kit 2.0 targets the part of the virus genome least prone to mutations, allowing real-time detection of the genetic material of the virus and a diagnosis within 90 minutes, without the risk of false positive or false negative.

"After providing its African partners with millions of items of essential medical equipment very quickly after the first cases of contamination on the continent, ARISE now wants to accompany them in their exit from the crisis. By guaranteeing the reliability of Covid-19 detection results, the screening tests performed with the Fortitude Kit 2.0 will help to strengthen local diagnosis capacities, contributing to curb the local circulation of the virus_", underlined Alain Saraka, ARISE's financial director.

About ARISE

ARISE is a pan-African infrastructure and logistics solutions company that develops ecosystems designed to make Africa prosper. We identify opportunities in commercial and industrial value chains across the continent and design, finance, build and operate the infrastructure needed to develop businesses and realize their potential. We develop our industrial ecosystems alongside our local partners and host governments, with the support of our major shareholders Olam, AP Moller Capital, Africa Finance Corporation, Meridiam and STOA to ensure that our operations have the greatest possible impact. Today ARISE comprises three distinct companies: ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP), ARISE Ports & Logistics (P&L) and ARISE Infrastructure Services (IS).