Business Finance Headlines International Morocco

Moroccan central bank invests in World Bank green bond

Morocco’s central bank purchased 200 million euros of sustainable bonds from the World Bank as Morocco hosts the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Marrakech. The EUR 100 million 3-year and EUR 100 million 5-year Sustainable Development Bond transactions will support the financing of the World Bank’s sustainable development activities, the […]

Africa Headlines International

Sub-Saharan Africa faces ‘lost decade’, its growth weighed down by continent’s heavyweights — World Bank

Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to decelerate this year by slumps in economic powerhouses South Africa, Nigeria and Angola, the World Bank has announced, expressing fears of a lost decade for the continent, faced with growing instability. For the current year, growth should reach 2.5%, compared with 3.6% last year, due in particular […]

Africa Business Emerging Markets Headlines International

AfCFTA to boost remittances by making cross-border transactions cheaper

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has potential to increase cross-border remittances by migrants, according to a new report by World Bank, even as international markets remain the largest sources. The AfCFTA has the potential to make cross-border transactions such as remittance transfers by migrants within Africa cheaper through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement […]

Energy Headlines

Mali’s Yara Oil in talks with IFC for €20.7m loan

Mali’s leading energy supplier and distributor “Yara Oil” is in advanced talks with the World Bank’s private sector financer, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), for a loan of €20.7 million earmarked to finance its domestic expansion plan, “Sika Finance” reports. Per the expansion plan, the company founded in 1983, will start 10 new distribution stations […]

Business Finance Headlines

IFC accords $150m loan to Olam to boost palm oil production in Gabon

The World Bank’s private sector financing arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), has provided a credit package of $150 to Olam Palm Gabon, the subsidiary of Singapore-based Olam International, to boost the company’s production of palm oil in the central African country. The loan, Gabon Review reports, will be used in the construction of a biodiesel […]

Africa Headlines International

Gabon’s president Bongo to compete against 18 rivals in re-election bid

Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba, whose family has ruled the oil-rich West African state for 55 years and is now favorite for a third term, will face 18 other candidates in next month’s poll, authorities announced Monday (24 July). The 64-year-old, who took over from his father Omar Bongo Ondimba in 2009, officially announced in […]

Africa Business Features Finance Headlines International

IFC loans Express Union Tchad around $3m to boost access to finance for underserved communities

The International Finance Corporation, IFC, has provided a loan worth close to $3 million to Chad’s leading microfinance Express Union Tchad (EUT) to boost access to finance for underserved communities —particularly women and those in rural areas, bolster the microfinance sector, and help drive economic growth, the World Bank’s branch for private sector financing said […]

Emerging Markets Finance Headlines Morocco

World Bank approvres $350 million financing for Morocco’s water program

The World Bank has approved a $350 million results-based financing program to support Morocco implement its National Program for Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation (PNAEPI 2020-2027) in the framework of the 30-year National Water Plan (PNE, 2020-2050). Launched in 2020, PNAEPI aims to improve water security by accelerating investments in the sector and strengthening the […]

Business Features Finance Headlines

West Africa: IFC, Orange Bank Africa ink partnership deal to increase digital lending for Small Businesses

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s arm for the development of the private sector in developing countries, has signed a partnership agreement with Orange Bank Africa (OBA), Orange Group’s digital bank, to “enable the smallest businesses in West Africa to access the financing they need to grow”. As part of the deal signed […]

Energy Finance Tunisia

Tunisia gets $268.4 million loan from World Bank to finance power connection project

The World Bank Thursday approved a $268.4 million loan to Tunisia earmarked for financing electricity connection with Italy, State-run news agency TAP reports. The electrical interconnection project known as ELMED is set to provide a 230 km-long 600MW connection to Italy’s Sicily. ELMED will produce a quantum leap in the integration of the electricity markets […]