Latest news with #TradeFinanceUnitsMeeting
Daily Tribune
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
From Bahrain to Africa: Inside Al Baraka's Digital Silk Road
TDT | Manama Bilateral Trade Sessions Expand Reach • New cross-border link formed • MENA-Africa firms connect • Platform boosts SME trade A new trade corridor is taking shape between Africa and the Middle East — digitally powered, Sharia-compliant, and anchored in Bahrain. Al Baraka Group, one of the region's most widespread Islamic banking networks, has launched a platform-driven push to unify its banking units across continents under a common trade finance system. The initiative, described by industry experts as a 'Digital Silk Road', gained momentum recently with two major bilateral sessions hosted by Al Baraka. The first connected exporters and importers in Turkey and Algeria, while the second linked businesses in Egypt and South Africa — signalling the group's intent to bridge Africa and MENA markets through seamless financing. Bridging Regions By pairing clients from its 12 operational markets, Al Baraka's trade programme is not just facilitating business, it is redrawing the commercial landscape. Since the programme's launch, executives have reviewed performance, discussed faster operational workflows, and mapped out new tech upgrades between Islamic economies. Senior trade experts, executive teams, and business owners came together during these sessions to explore new partnerships and routes for expansion. Simultaneously, the group held its second annual Trade Finance Units Meeting in Tunisia, marking the first full year of coordinated efforts. Powering Through Platforms A centrepiece of the initiative is Al Baraka's unified Trade Finance Platform, which has undergone major enhancements to allow for: Faster transaction execution Simplified client onboarding Multi-country coordination The result is a digital-first, bank-integrated solution designed to serve businesses across diverse markets without the friction of conventional banking silos. 'These collective efforts reflect Al Baraka Group's vision of transforming its diverse network into an integrated platform that enables clients to seamlessly access multiple markets,' said Group CEO Houssem Ben Haj Amor. He noted that the group's strength lies in offering 'diversified and flexible financing solutions' to support business competitiveness. 'We offer advanced solutions and an integrated support network that aligns with our clients' ambitions for expansion and growth in new markets,' added Mr Ben Haj Amor. Path to Expansion From Istanbul to Cape Town, Al Baraka's model centres on trade enablement, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to break into regional supply chains. The group's latest sessions have been widely welcomed by clients seeking reliable trade partners and faster access to finance. As digital Islamic trade finance accelerates across the Global South, Al Baraka's platform positions Bahrain as a node of influence — linking continents, capital, and clients on a new, ethical trade path.
Biz Bahrain
23-06-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
Al Baraka Group: Empowering customers through trade finance platform and diversified network
As part of its ongoing commitment to empowering its customers and supporting their expansion into global markets, Al Baraka Group has continued its efforts to support commercial businesses through a series of strategic initiatives that reflect the strength and diversity of its extensive network and broad geographic footprint. Recently, the Group successfully organized two events under its Joint Trade Finance Collaboration Program among its banking units. The first session brought together exporters and importers from its units in Turkey and Algeria, while the second gathered counterparts from Egypt and South Africa. Senior leaders and trade experts from both sides participated in these bilateral sessions, offering a platform to discuss mutual opportunities and explore new areas of trade collaboration. These sessions enabled Al Baraka's clients across these markets to access new partners and diversified trade opportunities, supporting their business expansion and enhancing cross-border trade activities. In parallel, the Group held its second annual Trade Finance Units Meeting in Tunisia last May, with the participation of unit heads and executive management representatives from across its various units. This important gathering served as a key milestone to review the Group's strong performance achieved in 2024, the first full year of activating the Group's Joint Trade Finance Collaboration Program. The meeting agenda focused on several key topics, all aimed at maximizing customer value and enhancing operational integration across the Group, and elevating services that deliver direct added value to clients. These included: A review of joint transactions successfully executed during the year. Discussing opportunities to enhance operational processes to boost efficiency and speed of trade transactions execution. Presenting the latest updates on the Group's unified Trade Finance Platform's technical enhancements, offering seamless and flexible connectivity across units. Exploring ways to further elevate the client experience and provide fast, diversified financing solutions. On this occasion, Mr. Houssem Ben Haj Amor, Group Chief Executive Officer of Al Baraka Group, commented: 'These collective efforts reflect Al Baraka Group's vision of transforming its diverse network into an integrated platform that enables clients to seamlessly access multiple markets, benefit from diversified and flexible financing solutions, and leverage the Group's shared expertise and unified services to drive competitiveness and business growth.' 'Al Baraka Group remains fully committed to serving as a key enabler for businesses, exporters, and importers across its markets, offering advanced solutions and an integrated support network that aligns with our clients' ambitions for expansion and growth in new markets.'
