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Transforming Startup Financing: The Rise of Venture Debt and Alternative Finance in MENA
The venture capital ecosystem in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) experienced a 23% drop in funding and a 34% decline in the number of transactions closed in 2023. But as Reem Goussous at Village Capital and Dunya Bashiti at Capifly explain, alternative capital solutions are emerging to fill the gap — including venture debt, which reached $757 million in the region last year, a staggering 50-fold increase from 2020 levels. They explore how venture debt provides an important financing tool for early-stage, high-growth startups in MENA, enabling them to access funding without diluting their equity.
- Categories
- Investing
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UAE Commits $50 Million to Development Initiative
The funding will be used by LLF 2.0 to support critical projects in health and infectious diseases, agriculture, and social infrastructure in low and lower-middle income IsDB member countries.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Finance
- Region
- Global
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Slow but Steady Growth of Sukuk in Africa
Sukuk, the Islamic finance debt instrument worth around $800bn globally, is becoming part of some African countries’ finance-raising landscape. However, despite enormous benefits, especially in infrastructure finance, the pace has been relatively slow. Mushtak Parker explains why.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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ITFC, Asia Alliance Bank Ink $10 Million Deal to Boost Private Sector in Uzbekistan
According to a statement by ITFC, this line of funding will specifically address import and pre-export requirements for private sector clients, including SMEs, in Uzbekistan.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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AEON Bank Set to Become Malaysia’s First Islamic Digital Bank
AEON Bank’s foray into digital banking aims to provide secure and efficient financial services to customers in Malaysia.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech, Islamic finance, lending
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Islamic Development Bank and World Bank Partnering to Drive Impact
The partnership is expected to support joint operations that could involve up to $6 billion in financing through 2026.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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Malaysia’s reNIKOLA Seeks up to $438 Million for Renewable Energy Projects
Uptake of renewable power is rising quickly in South and Southeast Asia as their booming economies grapple with power cuts due to a weak power grid and climate change.
- Categories
- Energy, Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Islamic Bank Approves $1.8 Billion to Finance Nigerian Projects
The Islamic Development Bank has sanctioned $1.8bn to finance several key projects in Nigeria.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa