Fintech PR
Abu Dhabi The Destination of Choice for Global Players With ADGM’s Record-Breaking Numbers for First Half of 2023
- As the GCC’s largest powerhouse contributing a share of 62% of total capital deployed by the Gulf region sovereign investors in 2022, Abu Dhabi’s position stands strengthened by ADGM’s strong year-on-year growth of 35% for AUM as of June 2023.
ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has continued to attract major global and regional players to its International Financial Centre (IFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). A strong performance during the first half of 2023 (H1 2023) by ADGM has demonstrated significant growth across various aspects, setting a positive tone for the rest of the year and continuing its contribution to positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading financial powerhouse and a ‘falcon economy’.
Strengthening Abu Dhabi’s Position as the GCC’s Financial Powerhouse
Recent numbers showcase several investment firms and hedge funds setting up within ADGM; reaching a total of 102 asset managers operating in ADGM and managing 128 funds, contributing to Abu Dhabi’s leading position in the asset management sector. ADGM’s assets under management (AUM) highlighted a year-on-year record growth of 35% as of June 2023.
Another plug-in to this sector was the announcement of the enhancements to the regulatory framework of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, enabling ADGM-based collective investment funds to invest in credit by originating and participating in credit facilities. Alternative financing for private enterprises, especially within the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) sector, was one of the major focusses of introducing the Private Credit Fund framework.
The attractiveness of ADGM as a holistic financial hub, which stands as the sole jurisdiction in the region to adopt the direct application of English common law, has resulted in prominent global firms establishing themselves in ADGM in 2023, such as Brevan Howard, Ardian, Goldman Sachs, Tikehau Capital, Blackstone, SBI Capital, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Apollo, Fifth Wall, Fidera and Vibrant Capital. The IFC also witnessed a major addition in the first half of 2023, welcoming legendary investor Ray Dalio, who has selected Abu Dhabi as its next strategic hub to expand his family office’s global footprint.
ADGM is also considered a preferred destination for heavy-weight local and regional firms such as ADQ, Chimera, G42, Gulf Capital, OneIM and Investcorp.
Other renowned international and regional players in the financial space are soon to be fully operational within ADGM, as a total of 46 firms have already been granted In-Principle Approval (IPA) during the first half of 2023. This is a striking increase of 119% compared to the same period last year.
Commenting on their expansion to ADGM, Alan Howard, Founder, of Brevan Howard, said: “Abu Dhabi and ADGM offer a transparent and business-friendly environment to the banking, fintech, and investment management industries. It is an important global hub with tremendous potential. We are delighted to partner with the government as it builds and develops for the future.” Brevan Howard manages over USD 30 billion on behalf of institutional clients globally.
Rajeev Misra, CEO of OneIM, commented, “Abu Dhabi has become an international hub for investors, employers and employees alike. This Financial Services Permission (FSP) will enable us to pursue many of the exciting opportunities we see in this region and to propel the firm into the next stage of its journey.”
Pioneering Sustainable Finance and Welcoming Global Sustainability Titans
H1 2023 witnessed ADGM’s FSRA implementing its sustainable finance regulatory framework, comprising the region’s most comprehensive ESG disclosure requirements and a regulatory framework for funds, discretionary managed portfolios, bonds and sukuks designed to accelerate the transition of the UAE to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. The framework complements ADGM’s existing regulation of carbon offsets, facilitating the establishment of the world’s first regulated carbon offsets exchange in ADGM, AirCarbon Exchange (ACX).
In March, ADGM FSRA together with other members of the UAE Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG), issued a draft “Principles for the Effective Management of Climate-Related Financial Risks” (“the draft Principles”) for consultation and will be published in the second half of 2023.
Earlier this year, the USD 100 billion multilateral development bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) signed an agreement to establish its first Interim Operational Hub at ADGM, which will become its first overseas office. The AIIB’s mission is to finance infrastructure with sustainability at its core.
ADGM’s Efficiency Continues to Elevate Despite Being One of The World’s Largest Financial District
A significant milestone in ADGM’s growth journey this year was marked by the announcement of the tenfold expansion of its geographic area, bringing Al Reem Island under its jurisdiction, in addition to the existing Al Maryah Island. It has positioned ADGM as one of the largest financial districts in the world, totalling 14.38 million sqm.
The expansion was the next natural step for ADGM following the growth trajectory it has experienced in recent times with global, regional and local companies increasingly choosing Abu Dhabi as the destination to expand and grow their businesses. This is also reflected in H1 2023 numbers with the operational entities soaring to a 36% year-on-year increase as of June 2023 to reach a total of 1,590 entities. Furthermore, during the same period, ADGM Square’s workforce displayed a rise of 28% bringing a total of 12,080 talented individuals.
From June 2022 to June 2023, the efficiency and speed of issuing commercial licences witnessed a notable 50% improvement. There has also been a remarkable 69% increase in efficiency and speed specifically for issuing commercial licences for SPVs.
Additional significant achievements for H1 2023
- The Registration Authority of ADGM published a consultation paper on the legislative framework for Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) Foundations.
- ADGM launched its inaugural Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ML/TF) Risk Assessment of ADGM Legal Persons and Arrangements Report (LPA Report) in May 2023.
- Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum (ADSFF) concluded its fifth edition with a focus on ‘Charting the path to COP28,’ as the nation prepares to host the global event later this year.
- The second edition of RESOLVE was launched as Abu Dhabi’s dispute resolution forum by ADGM Courts and ADGM Arbitration Centre that witnessed a physical attendance of more than 2,400, focused on Sustainability, Web3 and AI, Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) and sanctions, as well as the evolving infrastructure of the UAE.
- ADGM announced the return of Abu Dhabi Finance Week which will be held from 27th November to 30th November 2023.
Commenting on these positive developments, H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Member of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council & Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and ADGM said, “What we are witnessing in Abu Dhabi today, with some of the major global players choosing the capital city to base their business operations is nothing short of a major transition that is supporting the growth and diversification of the ‘Falcon Economy’. We are excited to see the growth numbers of ADGM at the end of the first half of 2023 which reinforces our position as the fastest-growing international financial centre in the region. Our efforts underline Abu Dhabi’s economic vision and ADGM’s overall strategy to make the financial sector a strong contributor to Abu Dhabi’s GDP and knowledge-based economy. Our outlook remains strong for 2023, as we continue working with key government stakeholders on the seamless expansion of ADGM’s jurisdiction and catering to the growing demand of businesses to be based in Abu Dhabi.”
The overall positive outlook for 2023 that ADGM has successfully shown since the start of the year reflects its Growth Strategy 2023-2027 and its alignment with Abu Dhabi’s overall goals to drive economic diversification through the growing financial sector.
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Fintech PR
Enabling Regenerative Agriculture for Independent Smallholders in Indonesia: The BIPOSC Project, in Collaboration with Musim Mas, L3F, SNV Indonesia, and ICRAF
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Musim Mas Group, the Livelihoods Fund for Family Farming (L3F), SNV Indonesia, and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) are collaborating to improve the knowledge and capacity of independent oil palm smallholders through the Biodiverse & Inclusive Palm Oil Supply Chain (BIPOSC) project.
The project began in 2021 and takes a long-term approach to sustain a deforestation-free supply chain, regenerate degraded land, restore local biodiversity, and improve the livelihoods of independent smallholder farmers in Labuhanbatu, North Sumatra. BIPOSC will achieve this through implementing regenerative agriculture, locally adapted agroforestry models, capacity-building for sustainable businesses, and others.
The independent palm smallholders taking part previously received complementary training from Musim Mas. Following the training, these smallholders formed a smallholder’s association, Labuhanbatu Independent Oil Palm Smallholders Association (APSKS LB), North Sumatra. Musim Mas encourages smallholders to form associations to get better access to resources and obtain certification by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO).
“Musim Mas has long saw that smallholders are key to achieving palm oil sustainability, and that’s why we lead Indonesia’s most extensive smallholder program. We believe that the way forward is to collaborate with more partners to achieve a wider impact. With our BIPOSC partners, we hope to advance the skills and knowledge of smallholders through regenerative agriculture and related techniques. Regenerative agriculture and agroforestry have the potential to help smallholders be part of a sustainable palm oil supply chain. It could help them develop alternative sources of income, especially during the replanting period where their palm oil crops are unproductive, typically for three years,” said Rob Nicholls, General Manager, Projects & Programs, Musim Mas Group.
In the face of climate change and threatened biodiversity, regenerative agriculture can play a role for small farms because it maintains soil health, prevents erosion and water runoff, and can potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen leakage.
“As a global development partner organization, SNV aims to support Indonesia in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To achieve this, we need to implement effective and impactful programs to transform agricultural and food systems, energy, and water. In the BIPOSC program, we promote a comprehensive regenerative agriculture and agroforestry model to maintain soil fertility and biodiversity, providing maximum benefits for farmers’ livelihoods and economy,” said Rizki Pandu Permana, Country Director of SNV Indonesia.
The key regenerative agriculture techniques taught include the application of bio-input, mulching to protect topsoil, planting cover crops, integrated pest management that reduces the need for chemical pesticides, and application of compost that reduces the amount of chemical fertilizers needed. To date, 1,032 independent smallholders received training and implement these techniques on their farms, representing a total land with a total area of 1,063.68 hectares. The project trained 25 village facilitators to provide hands-on assistance to smallholders, and seven demo plots established as pilot areas and learning facilities for regenerative agriculture.
“When I visited palm oil smallholders a few years ago in the area, their biggest concern was access to more fertilizers. While fertilizers play a key role in boosting yields, there was a noticeable gap in understanding how to protect the soil from long-term degradation. Smallholders needed more knowledge about maintaining soil health, preserving soil structure, and other critical factors. This is exactly what the BIPOSC project aimed to address, and we’re pleased to see that the farmers involved are now reporting not only higher yields but also healthier soils on their plots,” said Bernard Giraud, President & Co-Founder, Livelihoods.
The projectalso looks into capacity-building. In addition to home composting, the project enabled the local farmer association, APSKS LB, to develop and manage a composting unit with a capacity of 100-150 tons/month. Producing compost at scale with inputs from nearby mills and farmer plots, the unit offers compost to member farmers at half of typical market prices. In 2023, its first year of operation, the unit produced 588 tons of compost, and generated a profit of IDR 421 million. The project partners believe it is a model that can be replicated elsewhere.
“One of the most impactful outcomes of this project for smallholders is the Composting Unit as the business model around it. It enables smallholders to obtain compost affordably, and the profits are shared among member farmers. This is a practical solution to promote the adoption of composting, and all ASPKS-LB smallholders are now using compost in their plots,” said Syahrianto, Chairman of the Labuanbatu Independent Oil Palm Smallholders Association.
As of 2023, independent smallholders manage about 41% of oil palm planted areas in Indonesia, representing 6.94 million hectares. This figure is expected to increase to 60% by 2030, making projects like BIPOSC critical in shaping the future of sustainable palm oil production.
Devane Sharma
[email protected]
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JAKARTA, Indonesia, Oct. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nium, the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) to provide Indonesian customers with real-time international money transfer capabilities. This collaboration aims to enhance the cross-border offerings for BRI’s individual and corporate customers, delivering more accessible and cost-effective financial services across Indonesia.
This partnership empowers more than 150 million BRI account holders, including those in remote regions of Indonesia, to access modern, real-time cross-border payment services. The offering includes a variety of real-time payment mechanisms, supporting bank account destinations, a global electronic card network, and digital wallets. These innovations are closely aligned with BRI’s ongoing mission to provide affordable and customer-focused financial products, particularly for traditionally underserved communities.
BRI’s Corporate Secretary, Agustya Hendy Bernadi, emphasized BRI’s dedication to constantly improving customer convenience through innovations in its global network and cross-border transaction services. “This collaboration reflects BRI’s continuous efforts to enhance productivity and efficiency by expanding its digital payment channel network to meet the growing demand for global transactions,” he said. Agustya added that the partnership with Nium aligns perfectly with BRI’s vision to be Southeast Asia’s most valuable banking group and a champion of financial inclusion by 2025. “With Nium’s global transaction network, BRI strengthens the digitalization of its business processes and enhances retail banking capabilities in line with our 2025 strategic vision.”
Anupam Pahuja, General Manager and Executive Vice President for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa at Nium, shared his excitement about the partnership, highlighting BRI’s extensive presence across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands. “By integrating Nium’s advanced technology into BRI’s platform, we are dedicated to providing BRI’s customers, no matter where they are, with access to exceptional financial services. This partnership will remove the risks associated with cash handling and provide faster, more cost-effective transactions—whether individuals are sending money to family members abroad or businesses are making international payments.”
Cross-border payments are projected to grow significantly in Indonesia, with a forecasted year-on-year increase of 15% through 2025, driven largely by the digital transformation in financial services (Statista, 2024).
This partnership between BRI and Nium is expected to transform the way Indonesians engage with global financial services, meeting the rising demand for modern payment infrastructure and enhancing the overall experience for BRI’s customers in their international transactions.
About Nium
Nium, the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, was founded on the mission to deliver the global payments infrastructure of tomorrow, today. With the onset of the global economy, its payments infrastructure is shaping how banks, fintechs, and businesses everywhere collect, convert, and disburse funds instantly across borders. Its payout network supports 100 currencies and spans 220+ markets, 100 of which in real-time. Funds can be disbursed to accounts, wallets, and cards and collected locally in 40 markets. Nium’s growing card issuance business is already available in 34 countries. Nium holds regulatory licenses and authorizations in more than 40 countries, enabling seamless onboarding, rapid integration, and compliance – independent of geography. The company is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore.
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Fintech PR
Grexie Signchain Launches on November 1st, 2024: Enabling Smart Contract Developers to Bring Off-Chain Data On-Chain with Seamless Gas-Paid Signing
Grexie Signchain enables developers to sign off-chain data into smart contracts, with self-hosted or secure vault signer wallet management.
MANCHESTER, England, Oct. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Grexie Limited proudly announces the launch of its innovative smart contract solution, Signchain, on November 1st, 2024. Designed specifically for developers, Signchain introduces a powerful way to bring off-chain data on-chain through user-paid gas fees and secure signing of data into smart contract methods using its extendable smart contract, Signable.
In the growing landscape of blockchain technology, securely managing off-chain data and integrating it into on-chain smart contracts has posed significant challenges for developers. Signchain eliminates these hurdles by offering a robust, gas-efficient system for signing and authenticating data in real-time.
Key Features of Signchain:
1. Seamless Off-Chain to On-Chain Data Integration
Signchain enables developers to securely bring off-chain data on-chain by signing it directly into smart contract methods through user-paid gas fees. This integration ensures that data authenticity is preserved, and its entry into the blockchain remains tamper-proof, streamlining processes for industries relying on real-world data verification. Signchain also supports integration with Google Sheets, AWS, and Firebase, making it easy to pull data from popular off-chain data sources.
2. Extendable Smart Contract – Signable
The core of Signchain’s technology is its extendable smart contract, Signable, which allows developers to customize and build upon existing smart contracts. With Signable, developers can easily implement contract signatures for any data type, offering flexibility across industries from finance to logistics and beyond.
3. Signer Wallet Management
Signchain offers comprehensive signer wallet management as part of its service, empowering developers to manage and authenticate signers effectively. Wallets can either be self-hosted using Signchain’s Docker container for those who prefer their own infrastructure, or they can leverage Signchain’s network of secure vaults for maximum security.
4. Self-Hosted or Managed Service
For developers who want full control of their infrastructure, Signchain provides a self-hosted option via Docker containers, allowing them to deploy the platform on their own servers. Alternatively, developers can opt to use Signchain’s secure vault network, offering a hassle-free solution with enterprise-grade security and wallet management.
5. User-Paid Gas Fees
By integrating a user-paid gas fee model, Signchain allows users to cover the costs of signing and authenticating their data, ensuring the signing process is efficient and doesn’t overburden developers with additional expenses. This makes Signchain an ideal solution for dApps and platforms handling high transaction volumes.
6. Google Sheets, AWS, Firebase Integration with Serverless Model
Signchain supports integration with Google Sheets, AWS, and Firebase in a serverless model, powered by a hosted Sign In With Ethereum (SIWE) implementation provided by Signchain’s API. Developers can simply connect their Google Sheets and configure the contract parameters associated with each column. Signchain will automatically look up the user’s wallet address in the spreadsheet, sign the transaction data, and execute it in the blockchain along with any user-supplied parameters. This creates an easy, efficient way to manage data inputs from off-chain sources without heavy infrastructure setup.
Revolutionizing Smart Contract Workflows
With Signchain, developers now have the tools to handle the complexities of integrating off-chain data into smart contracts. The extendable nature of Signable offers flexibility, allowing developers to cater to various use cases, whether it’s automating financial transactions, supply chain data, or verifying legal agreements.
Tim Behrsin, CEO of Grexie Limited, said, “Signchain is more than just a signing solution—it’s a platform that empowers developers to securely integrate off-chain data into their smart contracts with minimal effort. The flexibility of Signable and our focus on signer wallet management offers developers control and security at every stage of the process.”
Why Signchain Matters
Signchain addresses critical challenges faced by developers, particularly those dealing with off-chain data. By signing data into smart contracts and enabling user-paid gas fees, the platform significantly reduces friction in managing secure, scalable smart contracts. Whether developers need to manage high volumes of data transactions or create bespoke smart contracts, Signchain offers a scalable and secure solution.
In industries like DeFi, real estate, and supply chain management, data integrity and security are paramount. Signchain’s secure vault network and customizable signing workflows allow businesses to handle sensitive information with confidence.
Launch Event and Future Developments
The official launch of Signchain will take place on November 1st, 2024, alongside a virtual event. The event will showcase live demonstrations of Signable, with detailed walkthroughs of the Docker-based self-hosted solution and signer wallet management features. Attendees will also get an exclusive preview of future enhancements, including multi-signature workflows and advanced blockchain network integrations.
About Signchain
Signchain is a cutting-edge platform developed by Grexie Limited, based in Manchester, Cheshire, United Kingdom. Signchain simplifies smart contract development by offering a secure, scalable, and customizable solution for signing and authenticating off-chain data on-chain. Developers can either self-host the solution using Signchain’s Docker container or rely on the network’s secure vault infrastructure. With an emphasis on security, flexibility, and developer experience, Signchain is set to transform how smart contracts handle off-chain data.
For more information, visit signchain.net.
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View original content:SOURCE Grexie Limited
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