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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Meets Key Indonesian Institutions to Bolster Partnerships for Development

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The meeting highlighted IsDBI’s Sukuk Development Program (SDP), which aims to enhance the role of sukuk in supporting development in IsDB Member Countries

JEDDAH, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, November 2, 2023/APO Group/ — 

A delegation from the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (www.IsDBInstitute.org) held separate meetings with four major public institutions in Indonesia to strengthen partnerships in various areas of mutual interest.

The meetings with the Financial Services Authority (OJK), PT Sarana Multi Infrastructure, Bank Indonesia, and Nusantara Capital City Authority, were part of the Institute’s series of engagements in Indonesia that included participation in the 10th Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) held in Jakarta from 25-29 October 2023.

The IsDBI team comprised Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, the Acting Director General, and Dr. Hylmun Izhar, a Senior Economist.

OJK Chairman, Mr. Mahendra Siregar, hosted the IsDBI team on 24 October 2023 at the OJK headquarters for discussions focusing on the Islamic finance ecosystem.

The meeting highlighted IsDBI’s Sukuk Development Program (SDP), which aims to enhance the role of sukuk in supporting development in IsDB Member Countries. The program focuses on three main components, namely Sukuk Enhancement Fund (SEF), Sovereign Finance Corporation (SFC), and Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS).

Boosting Development Financing

At PT Sarana Multi Infrastructure (SMI) headquarters in Jakarta, the President Director, Mr. Edwin Syahruzad, welcomed the IsDBI team on 24 October 2023 to discuss development financing using Islamic instruments.

The SMI, a ‘special mission vehicle’ under the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, is engaged in development and infrastructure financing

The SMI, a ‘special mission vehicle’ under the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, is engaged in development and infrastructure financing. Among other functions, it serves as the activator in fostering social, economic, and environmental growth in Indonesia through various financial development services.

Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem expressed the Institute’s commitment to working with PT SMI to enhance its capacity to mobilize resources and support local governments. This includes providing technical assistance to strengthen PT SMI’s capacity, expertise, and knowledge in Islamic finance and Shariah-compliant financing instruments.

Digital Platform for Social Finance

On the sidelines of the ISEF on Wednesday, 25 October 2023, the team had a meeting with H.E. Dr. Perry Warjiyo, Governor of Bank Indonesia, to explore potential areas of collaboration.

Dr. Warjiyo proposed the development of a nationwide Integrated Digital Platform for ZISWAF (Zakat, Infaq, and Awqaf) for inclusive and sustainable development for Indonesia. It was agreed that teams from the two institutions would work closely to prepare an action plan to realize this goal.

Indonesia’s New Capital City

On 27 October 2023, Dr. Bambang Susantono, Chairman of IKN, welcomed the IsDBI team to the Nusantara Capital City Authority (Otorita Ibu Kota Nusantara, IKN), the agency responsible for the future capital of Indonesia.

Dr. Susantono expressed Nusantara’s ambitions to be a sustainable forest city and smart city that would deliver enhanced productivity and quality of life. He said IsDBI has a considerable role to play as a partner to IKN in building Nusantara as a livable and lovable city.

Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem reaffirmed the Institute’s keenness to contribute to realizing IKN’s goals, which align with the IsDBI commitment to addressing development challenges in IsDB member countries.

He highlighted the importance of tapping into social finance and mainstreaming it with capital markets to mobilize resources for the Nusantara project. To this end, a potential launch of awqaf-linked strategic initiative and series of workshops on sukuk, e-commerce and SMEs, and awqaf were identified as the next steps.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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