Latest news with #SMEs
Times of Oman
6 hours ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Al Jabal Al Akhdar festival 2025 to kick off on Friday
Al Jabal Al Akhdar: The Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate will witness the launch of the Al Jabal Al Akhdar Festival 2025 and Al Jabal Al Akhdar Media Forum this Friday at the celebration grounds in Seih Qatnah. The event will run until 30 August, offering an integrated summer experience that highlights the wilayat's unique environmental character. The official opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Sabbaa Hamdan Al Saadi, Secretary General of the Secretariat General of National Celebrations, in the presence of Sheikh Hilal Said Al Hajri, Governor of Al Dakhiliyah . The dual events reflect Al Dakhiliyah Governorate's approach to fostering synergy between government institutions, the community, and the media, contributing to the promotion of developmental achievements and realising the objectives of "Oman Vision 2040" in enhancing the governorate's position on the investment and tourism map. The festival will feature laser and drone shows, cultural and artistic evenings, sports and family activities, as well as an open market with sections for productive families, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and platforms showcasing local agricultural products such as pomegranates, honey, apricots, and mountain herbs. As many as 65 SMEs and 10 farmers will participate in the festival, which has also created 60 temporary employment opportunities in organisational and logistical services, reflecting the level of active community engagement. Sheikh Sultan Mansour Al Ghafaili, Wali of Al Jabal Al Akhdar, emphasised the wilayat's commitment to showcasing its potential and activating the local community's role in supporting development. He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts between official and civil entities in ensuring the success of such initiatives. In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he noted that ongoing projects focus on improving quality of life and boosting tourism appeal, pointing out that Al Jabal Al Akhdar serves as a model for sustainable mountain development, given its natural resources and cultural heritage. Meanwhile, Ahmed Salim Al Toubi, Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate and Chairman of the Festival Organising Committee, stated that the festival serves as a platform to market the tourism and economic opportunities abundant in the wilayat, embodying the governorate's direction toward empowering the local community. Coinciding with the festival, Al Jabal Al Akhdar Media Forum will open under the patronage of Sheikh Hilal Said Al Hajri, Governor of Al Dakhiliyah, with the participation of over 70 journalists from various Omani media outlets. The forum is organised in partnership between Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, Oman Journalists Association, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Al Dakhiliyah branch, and the University of Nizwa. The forum aims to highlight developmental and service projects implemented in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, with a focus on efforts to develop mountainous regions and create an investment-friendly environment, in addition to fostering communication between media professionals and governorate officials. The programme includes a dialogue session with the Governor, accompanied by visual presentations on key initiatives, as well as field visits to several projects and tourist landmarks, including the renovated village of Al Suwjara. It should be noted that development projects worth over OMR4.5 million is currently being implemented in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, covering road network upgrades, the establishment of public and recreational facilities, and improvements in essential services.
Business Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
SME Centres to offer more comprehensive advisory services, referrals for complex issues
[SINGAPORE] SME Centres will soon offer more comprehensive and personalised advisory services, as well as referrals to partners for complex issues – such as financing-related support from an upcoming Centre for Enterprise Financing Advisory (Cefa). 'It will be easier for SMEs to connect with the right resources that enable their growth and transformation,' said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling on Wednesday (Jul 30), at the SME Centre Conference 2025. The 10 SME Centres help about 25,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) each year through business advisory, capability development and group-based upgrading. They are run by five trade associations and chambers, in partnership with Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG). A series of improvements are ahead, to be implemented by 2027. First, SME Centres' business advisers will provide more comprehensive and personalised services. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up More than 70 advisers are being trained to deepen their expertise. Beyond general business and grant advisory, they can conduct holistic business reviews to help SMEs achieve their goals. New diagnostic toolkits will be used to identify capability gaps and give recommendations. For a start, these will cover capabilities related to internationalisation and digitalisation. Topics such as sustainability will be added later. Specialised support Second, for complex issues, SME Centres will refer enterprises to partners for specialised help. These include the SME Pro-Enterprise Office, for regulations; the Centre for the Future of Trade and Investment, for trade and tariff issues; and Cefa, which will become operational in the coming months. Cefa is jointly set up by EnterpriseSG and the Singapore Business Federation. With help from the Association of Banks in Singapore, it aims to strengthen SMEs' financial resilience. The centre will provide tailored advice on growth plans, guidance on financing options, and opportunities to connect with financers and investors. There will also be resources, tools and training for SMEs to build internal financing capabilities. 'Cefa represents a significant step forward in providing SMEs with the financing support as needed to pursue growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving economic landscape,' said Low. More upgrades Separately, a new system will centralise appointment booking for SME Centres and simplify the process. The centres are also being upgraded physically. The SME Centre at the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, for example, was revamped in April with a dedicated room for consultations and presentations, and a showcase of manufacturing solutions and automation equipment. Wednesday's conference, held by the SME Centres and EnterpriseSG, included expert talks on how partnerships can drive growth and transformation, as well as an exhibition with consulting firms and solution providers.
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia leads MENA private equity market in H1: MAGNiTT
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia emerged as the most active private equity market in the Middle East and North Africa during the first half of 2025, accounting for 45 percent of all recorded transactions. According to MAGNiTT's MENA Private Equity Report, the Kingdom posted 13 deals, an 8 percent increase year on year, outpacing the UAE, which recorded 12 transactions, representing a 25 percent annual decline. Combined, the two markets comprised 86 percent of total regional PE deal activity, highlighting their growing dominance in the MENA investment landscape. Overall, the region continued to see a contraction in transaction volumes, with total activity dropping by 38 percent year on year to account for just 29 percent, marking the third consecutive half-year decline. Disclosed deal value dropped only 11 percent from the first half of the year 2024 to $2.88 billion, as capital shifted toward larger, high-conviction investments. 'The MENA region's PE recalibration is being led by scale-ready SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and high-conviction strategies, not withdrawal,' said Farah El-Nahlawi, research department manager at MAGNiTT, adding: 'The growing dominance of $100M+ deals signals a maturing landscape ready to absorb larger pools of capital.' The Kingdom's PE growth aligns with its venture capital growth. According to a separate report by MAGNiTT, Saudi Arabia led MENA VE activity in early 2025, raising $860 million — a 116 percent year-on-year increase — driven by sovereign backing and rising foreign investor interest. The report recorded 114 VC deals in the first half of the year, up 31 percent from the same period in 2024, highlighting the broader momentum across the nation's investment ecosystem and its growing appeal as a capital destination for both private equity and venture capital. Investor activity varied notably among key markets. In Saudi Arabia, 12 out of 13 transactions involved local investors, highlighting strong domestic momentum. In contrast, two-thirds of the UAE's deals — eight out of 12 — were led by international investors, reaffirming the UAE's role as a regional gateway for cross-border capital. The concentration of capital into larger deals was a defining trend. Transactions in the $500 million to $1 billion range rose to 29 percent of the total in the first half of 2025, while $1 billion-plus deals accounted for 14 percent — both the highest shares in five years. At the same time, smaller deals under $50 million dropped to just 14 percent, the lowest level on record. On a value basis, transactions in the $500 million to $1 billion bracket made up 42 percent of disclosed capital, overtaking the $1 billion-plus segment, which declined from 45 percent in 2024 to 36 percent in the first half of 2025. This evolution aligns with broader global investment patterns. According to S&P Global, international PE deal value rose 18.7 percent year on year in the first half of 2025 despite a 6 percent decrease in volume, suggesting an industry-wide pivot toward fewer but more substantial transactions. 'Despite global macro uncertainty, the GCC, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, continues to demonstrate structural strength and investor confidence,' El Nahlawi said, adding: 'Backed by sovereign support, maturing SMEs, and a favorable regulatory environment, the region is poised to anchor future PE activity.' Beyond the Kingdom and the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Qatar each recorded a single transaction, jointly accounting for the remaining 14 percent of regional activity. Egypt experienced the sharpest drop, with dealings down 89 percent year on year.
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
SY Holdings Establishes Singapore International Headquarters to Explore Web3.0 Ecosystem and Innovative Applications of Stablecoins
SHENZHEN, CHINA - EQS Newswire - 29 July 2025 - SY Holdings Group Limited ("SY Holdings" or the "Group," stock code: an "AI + industrial supply chains" digital intelligence technology company, announced the official designation of its Singapore subsidiary, SY INTELLECTHUB as its international headquarters. SY Holdings will continue to intensify its efforts in expanding international markets. The Singapore International Headquarters will deepen global industrial supply chain connectivity, explore innovative applications of Web3.0 and stablecoins, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in going global, and provide them with one-stop international order matching and working capital facilitation the backdrop of an increasingly complex and volatile international macro-environment, the global supply chain ecosystem is undergoing profound adjustments, with traditional supply chain decoupling points becoming increasingly unbalanced. Cross-border payment processes are lengthy; exchange rate fluctuations are severe; and compliance reviews are cumbersome—these overlapping factors have significantly increased logistics and capital costs, prolonging overall delivery cycles. SY Holdings aims to become an integral part of the supply chain, using its Singapore International Headquarters as a core hub to actively explore cutting-edge technologies such as Web3.0 and stablecoins. This will better assist SMEs in finding orders, securing financing, and fulfilling contracts, thereby building a one-stop international supply chain technology platform to enhance global supply chain resilience and sustainable the reshaping of global value chains and the upgrading of China's supply chains, going global has become an essential path for Chinese enterprises and brands to grow stronger. Singapore, as a global financial, trade, and shipping hub, boasts a well-developed financial system, a strategic geographical location, and an extensive business network, making it the preferred destination for Chinese companies looking to expand into Southeast Asia and beyond. As an international enterprise controlled by Singaporean capital, SY Holdings also received strategic investment from Temasek, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, in 2018. Through strategic partnerships and investments with leading enterprises in Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other countries, the Company has actively explored and expanded its international business. Simultaneously, SY Holdings has been deeply involved in commercial cooperation projects between China and Singapore, including the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. The establishment of its Singapore subsidiary as the international headquarters marks a new phase for SY Holdings in pioneering international innovation, connecting global markets, and supporting SME development, while laying the groundwork for embracing the Web3.0 ecosystem and exploring stablecoin applications in international supply chains and cross-border 2024, China's foreign trade exceeded RMB 43 trillion for the first time, maintaining its position as the world's largest goods trading nation for the eighth consecutive year. The "Chinese Enterprises Going Global Insights and Global Trends Outlook Report" released by Shine Global noted that over 700,000 enterprises are currently attempting or planning to expand overseas. Among them, 55% of surveyed companies have incorporated global expansion into their strategic plans, while 31% consider it a core strategy. The "Chinese Enterprises' Outbound Investment Status and Intentions Survey Report" by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade further revealed that over 80% of respondents plan to expand or maintain their foreign investments. However, market access barriers, channel connectivity challenges, capital turnover efficiency, exchange rate volatility risks, and the complexity of cross-border payment settlements remain major bottlenecks hindering the globalization of Chinese entering the Chinese market, SY Holdings has not only deepened its presence in traditional sectors such as infrastructure, pharmaceutical and healthcare, and commodities but has also actively expanded into strategic emerging industries like e-commerce, robotics, and AI applications. Adhering to a platform-based development strategy, the Company leverages technologies such as AI Agent to connect industrial ecosystems and data elements, having assisted over 19,000 Chinese SMEs in securing more than RMB 270 billion in order matching and capital turnover services. Based on its deep integration with China's industrial ecosystem, SY Holdings has keenly identified the growing global expansion demands of Chinese SMEs and the vast market potential behind them, swiftly establishing this as a new growth driver for its international business. For example, in e-commerce, SY Holdings has formed strategic partnerships with leading Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms. Leveraging its accumulated international market resources, the Company provides one-stop international supply chain solutions for Chinese SMEs to "sell globally and open stores worldwide." Through AI and big data analytics, SY Holdings assists Chinese merchants in accurately identifying potential market opportunities in Southeast Asia, offering tailored localization strategies and matching working capital based on transaction orders to help them generate greater revenue in international SMEs commonly face pain points in cross-border payment settlements during globalization. Under traditional cross-border payment models, transactions must undergo multi-tiered correspondent bank clearing and settlement, with identity verification and compliance reviews required at each step. The process is cumbersome and time-consuming, failing to meet the timeliness demands of trade in the digital era. Additionally, layered fees—including handling charges, exchange fees, and service fees—significantly increase trade costs. According to World Bank statistics, as of Q3 2024, the average global remittance fee was 6.62% of the transaction amount, with settlement times ranging from 1 to 5 business days. In contrast, stablecoins, as emerging payment and settlement tools pegged to fiat currencies, enable peer-to-peer transfers via blockchain technology, achieving instant "payment-as-settlement" clearing while reducing costs to as low as 0.1%. Notably, stablecoins inherently offer exchange rate hedging, effectively mitigating currency volatility risks in cross-border trade. SY Holdings plans to explore innovative applications of stablecoins in international supply chain capital turnover services to enhance efficiency, reduce cross-border payment costs, and hedge against exchange rate risks, thereby delivering a "more, faster, better, and cheaper" customer Holdings stated: "Singapore is a critical hub connecting China and the world. Establishing our international headquarters in the Lion City is not only due to its unparalleled geographical advantages but also its mature tech ecosystem and pro-globalization ethos. As a top-tier global financial center, Singapore boasts robust financial infrastructure and a strong regulatory framework. Building on these regulatory advantages, Singapore has become a hotbed for the thriving Web3.0 ecosystem in Asia and beyond. Previously, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) introduced a stablecoin regulatory framework, making it one of the first jurisdictions globally to incorporate stablecoins into local oversight. Moving forward, SY Holdings will use Singapore as a springboard for international expansion while actively exploring full integration into the Web3.0 industrial ecosystem. We aim to innovatively merge stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization (RWA), and traditional supply chain assets to 'build bridges and pave the way' for Chinese SMEs' global expansion, helping them better integrate into global industrial supply chains through 'order and capital matching' services."Hashtag: #SYHoldings The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Tide Now Supports Over 1.5 Million Small Businesses Globally
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 29, 2025-- Tide, the UK's leading business management platform, today announces it has surpassed 1.5 million members globally. Tide has added over 500,000 members since September 2024, with the UK now at 750,000 and India at more than 750,000. Tide's share of the UK market has grown to 13%. Tide continues to expand its presence in Germany. Oliver Prill, CEO of Tide, commented: 'Reaching 1.5 million members globally and lending more than £1 billion to UK SMEs are major milestones for Tide. These achievements reflect our commitment to helping small businesses save time and money by giving them business critical tools across finance, admin and related commercial services that they need, to grow. We are enriching and expanding our range of highly connected products at pace. We will continue to explore markets to boost the geographic footprint of our business management platform.' Highlights: View source version on CONTACT: Lloyd Purnell PR and Communications Lead, UK, Tide. Email:[email protected] KEYWORD: EUROPE IRELAND UNITED KINGDOM INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DATA MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY TECHNOLOGY FINANCE SMALL BUSINESS FINTECH BANKING APPS/APPLICATIONS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PAYMENTS SOFTWARE DATA ANALYTICS SOURCE: Tide Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 07/29/2025 03:00 AM/DISC: 07/29/2025 03:01 AM
