logo
UKEF provides $761mln loan guarantee for Angola infrastructure project

UKEF provides $761mln loan guarantee for Angola infrastructure project

Zawya05-05-2025
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has provided a loan guarantee worth up to £573 million ($761 million) to support infrastructure development in Angola's Benguela Province, located on the country's Atlantic coast, the export credit agency said in a notice dated 2 May 2025.
UK-based Innovo Projects is executing the construction contract commissioned by Angola's Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning.
UKEF's support allows the Angolan government, through Ministry of Finance, to finance Innovo Group's contract using funds arranged by Standard Chartered Bank, as Structuring and Coordinating Bank, Bookrunner and Mandated Lead Arranger
The project involves the development, construction, and rehabilitation of 22 sub-projects across Benguela located west of Angola. The works span four key categories:
Water infrastructure, including water supply systems, drainage, and flood risk management;
Transport infrastructure, involving road rehabilitation, construction of pedestrian bridges and crossings, and improved stormwater drainage;
Public buildings, focusing on the façade restoration of historic and culturally significant structures;
Community facilities, including new marketplaces, public leisure areas, and beachfront enhancements.
A key aim of the project is to provide critical infrastructure rehabilitation in order to improve the living conditions for communities, reducing the risk and impact of flooding and other climate related events.
(Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)
(anoop.menon@lseg.com)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

OWWA e-Card printer to stay at MWO-Dubai even after Serbisyo Caravan
OWWA e-Card printer to stay at MWO-Dubai even after Serbisyo Caravan

Filipino Times

time2 hours ago

  • Filipino Times

OWWA e-Card printer to stay at MWO-Dubai even after Serbisyo Caravan

UAE-based OFWs who were unable to claim their e-Cards during the recent Serbisyo Caravan in Dubai will still be able to get their cards, as the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) will leave its card printer at the Migrant Workers Office (MWO). 'Huwag kayong mag-alala para sa OWWA dahil hindi lang ito isang araw lang sa Dubai. Iiwan na namin dito 'yung card printer para tuloy-tuloy lang ang pagpi-print ng OWWA e-Card dito sa Dubai,' OWWA Administrator Patricia Yvonne Caunan. Alongside the surge in National ID applications, the OWWA e-Card was among the most in-demand services during the OFW Serbisyo Caravan held at the Dubai World Trade Center on August 3. Active members of OWWA who wish to request an e-Card may complete their registration using a QR code provided by the agency. The QR code will remain available for those who missed the caravan. She added that eligible individuals can claim their e-Card anytime, even after the event. 'Anytime pwede niyong kunin, at kung hindi niyo makukuha today, kayo po ay cocontact-in ng mga tauhan ng OWWA dito sa Dubai,' she said. Thousands of attendees OWWA made the decision after thousands of Filipinos turned up at the one-day event, overwhelming the initial space at Exhibition Hall 8 of the Dubai World Trade Center and prompting organizers to expand the venue to Sheikh Rashid Hall. Caunan acknowledged the large turnout and emphasized the need for recurring caravans in the UAE. 'Hindi natin in-expect na ganito karami ang may kailangan ng serbisyo ng gobyerno dito sa Dubai. Hindi pwedeng isa o dalawang araw lang ito, kailangan ulit-ulitin ito dahil kailangan dito sa UAE dalhin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno,' Caunan said. The OWWA e-Card serves as proof of membership and can be used to access various government services and programs for overseas Filipinos.

eToro Plans Launch of Tokenized US Stocks and ETFs on Ethereum
eToro Plans Launch of Tokenized US Stocks and ETFs on Ethereum

Arabian Post

time3 hours ago

  • Arabian Post

eToro Plans Launch of Tokenized US Stocks and ETFs on Ethereum

eToro, the globally recognised trading platform, revealed plans to introduce tokenized US stocks and exchange-traded funds on Ethereum. This announcement, made during a global webinar titled 'eToro Unlocked: Trade Without Boundaries', marks a significant development in the integration of traditional financial assets with blockchain technology. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between conventional finance and the burgeoning world of decentralised finance. By utilising Ethereum's blockchain, eToro will allow users to trade tokenized versions of US stocks and ETFs. This move follows the growing trend of decentralised financial products that provide greater accessibility and transparency to global markets. The tokenisation of these assets is expected to enable fractional ownership, meaning investors can hold and trade portions of stocks and ETFs without the need for a large capital outlay. This shift is in line with a wider industry push towards blockchain adoption. Major financial institutions, including banks and asset managers, have explored tokenisation as a way to simplify processes, reduce costs, and make trading more efficient. By offering these products on a platform like eToro, which boasts millions of active users, the company is positioning itself as a key player in the digital asset space. ADVERTISEMENT As of now, traditional trading platforms have been somewhat slow to incorporate blockchain technologies, particularly when it comes to mainstream products like equities and ETFs. However, tokenisation is rapidly gaining traction, with the promise of faster transactions, lower fees, and enhanced security. Ethereum, due to its widespread use and robust smart contract capabilities, has emerged as a leading blockchain for such innovations. The rollout of tokenized US stocks and ETFs will occur in phases. Initially, a select group of eToro users will be given early access to these digital assets, with the plan for a broader launch depending on regulatory approval and market demand. Despite the novelty of tokenised equities, the platform's offering will be fully compliant with the relevant financial regulations, ensuring that users can trade with confidence. eToro's move to embrace Ethereum-based tokenisation comes at a time when other financial services firms are also investigating blockchain's potential in transforming asset management. For instance, firms like Fidelity and Grayscale have pioneered offerings that allow traditional investment in cryptocurrency, while companies such as JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs have been integrating blockchain technologies into their existing infrastructure. However, it remains to be seen whether tokenised assets can truly revolutionise the way investors interact with traditional financial products. While blockchain technology offers numerous advantages, including faster settlement times and reduced friction in cross-border trading, the challenge lies in widespread adoption. Regulatory hurdles and market acceptance will play key roles in determining whether tokenisation becomes mainstream or remains a niche offering. Nonetheless, the trend is gaining momentum. Tokenisation is seen as a way to democratise access to high-value assets that were previously reserved for wealthier investors or institutions. By breaking down these assets into smaller, more affordable fractions, eToro aims to give a wider audience the opportunity to diversify their portfolios, gain exposure to US stocks and ETFs, and participate in a global marketplace. As eToro has expanded its offerings in recent years, it has positioned itself as a platform that seeks to empower users by providing more trading options and access to a range of global financial products. This tokenisation project is part of eToro's broader vision of a more open and inclusive financial ecosystem, where geographical and financial barriers are diminished through technological advancements.

Saudi chemical maker Sabic reports third straight quarterly loss
Saudi chemical maker Sabic reports third straight quarterly loss

The National

time7 hours ago

  • The National

Saudi chemical maker Sabic reports third straight quarterly loss

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation, the Middle East's biggest petrochemicals company, reported a third consecutive quarterly loss on Sunday, after deciding to shut a cracker production plant in the UK as part of a restructuring drive. Sabic posted a net loss for the three months to the end of June of 4.07 billion riyals ($1.09 billion), compared with a net profit of 2.18 billion riyals during the same period last year, it said in a filing to the Tadawul stock exchange, where its shares are traded. The results missed analysts' expectations of a profit of 504 million riyals, Reuters reported. Sabic, which is 70 per cent owned by oil major Saudi Aramco, has posted three consecutive losses in quarterly profits as the chemicals industry grapples with weak demand that has affected sales. The company attributed the latest loss mainly to a 3.78-billion-riyal impairment related to the closure of its cracker plant in Teesside, the UK. 'This action is in line with the company's review of its business portfolio with the aim of reducing costs and improving profitability,' Sabic said. It also cited impairment charges for its investment in Swiss speciality chemicals maker Clariant due to its share price decline. Revenue during the latest quarter, however, rose 3 per cent from the previous three-month period, to 35.6 billion riyals due to 'increased sales volumes offset by a decrease in average product selling prices', the company said. As a result of excess production capacity, operating rates remain below the historical global average, leading to margin pressure due to oversupply Abdulrahman Al Fageeh, Sabic chief executive 'As a result of excess production capacity, operating rates remain below the historical global average, leading to margin pressure due to oversupply,' said Abdulrahman Al Fageeh, chief executive of Sabic. 'The cost optimisation initiatives we launched in the first quarter … aim to deliver, by 2030, a recurring annual Ebitda impact of $3 billion.' The company plans to spend between $3 billion and $3.5 billion this year. The global economy is facing headwinds as US President Donald Trump's push to impose heavy tariffs on trading partners stokes fears. The disruption in global commerce will severely dent economic growth. In another filing on Sunday, Sabic proposed a dividend of 1.5 riyals per share for the first half of the year. Shares declined 2 per cent to 53.55 riyals each. Market sentiment remained uncertain during the second quarter of 2025, weighed down by global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tension, Sabic said. The manufacturing purchasing managers' index averaged slightly below 50, signalling persistent softness in demand, the company added. Sabic is playing a key role in Saudi Arabia's plan to reduce its reliance on oil exports. The company said projects such the Petrokemya MTBE plant in Saudi Arabia and Sabic Fujian complex in China were progressing according to plan. Last year, Sabic announced investments worth $6.4 billion in the Sabic Fujian petrochemical complex as part of its expansion plans in the world's second-largest economy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store