CNBC Africa

International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) supports Senegal’s COVID-19 Plan with EUR 8 Million disbursement for the Private Sector

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has approved a Murabaha Financing of EUR 8 million for the Senegalese bank Banque Islamique du Sénégal (BIS). The Murabaha facility is expected to support around 1,000 jobs within the private sector, including companies in food and distribution. The swift disbursement of this financing by ITFC has enabled local private companies to procure urgent food staples, and support national response efforts to ensure food security.

International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation releases 2019 Annual Development Effectiveness Report

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) released its 2019 Annual Development Effectiveness Report (ADER). In 2019, ITFC approved US$5.8 billion trade financing. Of this, US$5 billion was disbursed towards improving the livelihoods of millions of people in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Disbursement in Asian and CIS member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stood at US$2.6 billion, while in African OIC countries, total disbursements amounted to US$2.4 billion. In 2019, ITFC signed framework agreements worth US$4.8 billion with 9 countries and mobilized US$1.2 million through grants for trade development interventions in agriculture, financial institutions, capacity building and trade promotion.

International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation extends US$100m COVID-19 Emergency Financing for purchasing wheat and sugar in favor of Egypt

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has signed a US$100 million financing agreement with the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) to cover the Egyptian Government’s commodity needs during the Corona outbreak. ITFC CEO Hani Salem Sonbol said the financing supports the importation of critical basic commodities such as wheat and sugar. The wheat policy is of strategic importance to the Egyptian Government to ensure food security for all Egyptians. Since 2018, ITFC has been supporting the Governments’ efforts through a trade finance facility benefiting the GASC, Egypt’s largest wheat purchaser.

Standard Chartered commits USD75bn towards Sustainable Development Goals

Standard Chartered announced new business targets for supporting its clients as they transition to a low carbon economy. By the end of 2024, the Bank commits to providing USD40 billion of project financing services for infrastructure that promotes sustainable development. Standard Chartered also intends to reduce its emissions across its global properties by 2030. In October 2018, the Bank created the Sustainable Finance team and has since launched sustainable deposit products in London, Singapore, Hong Kong and New York. In addition, a EUR500 million Sustainability Bond was also launched, the proceeds of which will be used to provide finance in areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, including clean energy projects, smaller business lending and microfinance loans.

Why #Ethiopia wants to develop Islamic finance

Ethiopia's central bank aims to develop Islamic finance to help expand financial access and inclusion. The country has one of the highest economic growth rates in Africa, but relies heavily on an agricultural sector that employs three-quarters of the workforce. According to Getahun Nana, Vice Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, the government wants to industrialize its economy but this requires sustaining investment rates of almost 40% of GDP over the next five years. Islamic finance could help in this endeavor, so the central bank is conducting a study to determine the demand for sharia compliant financial products. Islamic finance is still new in Ethiopia. Currently 8 out of 18 financial institutions offer sharia compliant products via Islamic windows but they have so far mobilized less than 1% of total deposits.

What’s hindering Islamic finance growth in #Kenya?

Kenya has a higher percentage of Christians compared to Muslims, but this country is seeing a surge in Islamic financing. According to Rahma Hassan Hersi, Managing Partner at Awal Consulting, the lack of regulations is deterring potential growth. There is a need to address this issue in tandem with the central bank. There is also very limited expertise. The penetration of Islamic finance in Kenya is estimated at 2% with a limited number of banks and insurance companies playing in that space.

Rising demand for Islamic finance products in Africa

Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission and the Debt Management Office recently inaugurated a committee to oversee Nigeria's first sovereign sukuk, an Islamic financial certificate, similar to a bond in Western Finance that complies with the Islamic religious law. CNBC Africa's Onyi Sunday spoke to Samira Mensah, Associate Director at Standard & Poor's to discuss the rising demand for Islamic finance products in Africa.

How Islamic social finance can be used to fight povert

A report from the Islamic Development Bank suggests that an Islamic social finance product "Zakah" has great potential in curbing poverty for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. CNBC Africa spoke to Mohammed Obaidullah, Senior Economist at the Islamic Development Bank and Lead Author of the Islamic Social Finance Report, to get more insight on this.

How to fast track Islamic finance development in Africa

Rating agency Standard and Poor's says regulation and fiscal incentives could speed Islamic finance development in Africa. The report further noted that African sovereigns have issued only about $1 billion of Sukuk instruments, compared with global Sukuk issuance of an average $100 billion per year over the past five years. Samira Mensah, an associate director at Standard and Poor's joins CNBC Africa to share more insight on this report. Watch the video on http://www.cnbcafrica.com/video/?bctid=4413568917001#.

Exploring Islamic financing in Kenya

Kenya plans to create an enabling regulatory framework to boost Sharia financing in the country. The country's Capital Market Authority is holding a workshop in Nairobi. Islamic finance, which follows religious principles such as bans on interest and gambling, is currently offered by two full-fledged Islamic lenders in Kenya - Gulf African Bank and First Community Bank.

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