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OPEC Fund approves close to US$1.2 billion new development funding

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VIENNA, Sept. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is significantly stepping up its development support with nearly US$1.2 billion in new funding since June. The latest projects approved by the Governing Board, which met for its 189th session today, support smallholder farmers and businesses, promote the construction of resilient infrastructure, provide clean water & sanitation solutions and increase climate resilience. Partner countries’ reform programs will benefit from dedicated OPEC Fund loans.

OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “The OPEC Fund is ramping up its efforts with significant new financing approvals which underscore our commitment to transformative development. These investments in our partner countries will boost infrastructure and build resilience, delivering tangible benefits for the people and communities we serve.”

The OPEC Fund’s Governing Board approved the following new projects in today’s meeting and since its last meeting in June 2024.

Public Sector Operations (in alphabetical order):

Armenia: A US$50 million policy-based loan will fund a joint World Bank program to support government efforts to foster climate change mitigation and adaptation, improve environmental management and energy efficiency, promote human capital development and strengthen governance.

Benin: A US$26 million loan will support the scaling up of investments in agriculture to enhance food security through the Horticulture Development Support Project in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The project will reach 16,000 households and benefit nearly 100,000 smallholder horticulture farmers and family members, nearly half of whom are women and young people.

Colombia: A US$150 million policy-based loan will finance and help the implementation of the government’s Decentralization and Biodiversity Support Program. It is promoting territorial development by strengthening institutions, improving environmental governance and enhancing biodiversity protection. The program is expected to benefit nearly 16.5 million people.

Côte d’Ivoire: A US$60 million policy-based loan for the Economic Transformation and Inclusive Governance Program (PATEGI) – Phase I will promote inclusiveness and governance in public finance management; improve competitiveness and boost the green transition in the transport and energy sectors. The program is being co-financed with the African Development Bank.

Democratic Republic of Congo: A US$30 million loan will improve access to potable water through the development of infrastructure in the Ubangi River basin, specifically in the North Ubangi province in Gbadolité and the rural areas of Mobayi-Mbongo, where access to drinking water is significantly lower (8 percent) than the national average (18 percent).

Honduras: A US$15 million loan will enhance food security by promoting resilient and sustainable agriculture in north-central Honduras. The project will benefit around 140,000 people, prioritizing women and youth.

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Jordan: A US$100 million policy-based loan will support a joint World Bank program targeting human capital, which aims to improve the governance and effectiveness of education, health and social assistance. It will also promote climate resilience including safeguarding households from the adverse effects of rising temperatures.

Oman: A loan facility of up to US$392 million financing, consisting of two tranches (US$180 million and US$212 million), will support the Dibba-Lima-Khasab road project, a strategic investment covering a total length of 72km. The road will reduce travel times, improve traffic safety and boost tourism.

Tajikistan: A loan facility of up to US$100 million consisting of four tranches (US$25 million each) will support the Rogun Hydropower Plant Project, currently under construction on the Vakhsh River. The power plant will have an installed capacity of 3,780 MW, promoting energy security in the country and providing clean energy for the entire Central Asia region.

Private Sector and Trade Finance Operations (in alphabetical order):

Armenia: A US$10 million loan to a local bank will support on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provide funds for green projects

Botswana: A US$40 million loan to a local development organization will promote economic diversification beyond the diamond industry and support non-mining sectors such as agribusiness, health, education, ICT, finance and energy.

Dominican Republic: A US$17.5 million loan to a local bank will promote on-lending to SMEs, including women-led businesses.

Regional Africa: A US$40 million loan to a regional development bank will support socio- economic development across four countries.

The OPEC Fund also approved four trade finance facilities in Mauritania (US$50 million), Senegal (US$47 million), Egypt (US$35 million) and Pakistan (US$25 million) to support the import of strategic commodities for development.

About the OPEC Fund

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The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed about US$27 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

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OPEC Fund President Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa

 

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Nium Expands Across Australia and New Zealand, Driven by Increased Adoption from Financial Institutions and Spend Management Platforms

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Spend management platform, RedOwl, joins as latest partner; 
Nium has seen monthly payment volume grow by 3X over the last twelve months, in the Oceania region

SYDNEY, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Nium, the global leader in real-time cross-border payments, today announced that its monthly payment volume grew by 3X in Oceania, over the last year. This growth has been driven by a surge in adoption from financial institutions and spend management platforms, with AI platform, RedOwl, being the latest partner to join the Nium network. RedOwl’s immediate goal is to bring AI to corporate cards, joining spend management category leaders Weel and Budgetly, who have turned to Nium for white-label card issuing and cross-border payouts.  

RedOwl is bringing the power of AI into payment rails, championing intelligence and real-time decision making when it comes to card related payments. “We chose Nium because of their unparalleled infrastructure and expertise in powering modern payments. Their solutions allow us to enter the market faster and deliver greater value to our customers,” said Jitto Arulampalam, Co-founder and CEO at RedOwl. 

Budgetly has been a Nium customer since 2020. The company tapped Nium to provide more convenience and control to its SME clientele through the provision of pre-paid cards for expense management processes. “Partnering with Nium has been a game-changer for Budgetly,” said Simon Lenoir, CEO and Founding Director at Budgetly. “Through Nium, we recently launched our international bill payment solution, offering our customers the ability to make payments effortlessly via one portal. This partnership has allowed us to scale rapidly and offer seamless experiences for our customers.” 

“The spend management industry is booming in Australia, with businesses increasingly turning to Nium for its white-label card issuing and cross-border payment solutions,” said Anupam Pahuja, EVP and GM for APAC, Middle East, and Africa at Nium. “Our platform solves complex payment problems across a wide range of verticals, including travel, payroll, insurance, and e-commerce. Our card issuance solution has already issued over 75 million cards globally, supporting major global brands. This, along with Nium’s extensive geographical coverage and B2B infrastructure focus, positions the company as a critical enabler for businesses looking to scale in Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.”

In addition to its success in Australia, Nium recently achieved another critical milestone by registering as a Financial Service Provider in New Zealand. This pivotal step marks the company’s entry into the dynamic financial landscape of New Zealand, allowing it to extend its comprehensive suite of financial solutions to local businesses. Nium expects that its offerings will range from virtual accounts and global payouts to debit and prepaid cards, enabling businesses to streamline operations and improve their financial efficiency.

“Becoming a registered Financial Service Provider in New Zealand reaffirms our commitment to delivering innovative financial solutions globally,” continued Pahuja. “Our presence in New Zealand, alongside our established operations in Australia, positions us as a key player in the region’s financial ecosystem, empowering businesses to thrive through our technology.”

Since its founding ten years ago, Nium has raised over $300 million USD (up to Series E). In October 2023, Nium celebrated its Centaur status, reaching $100 million USD in aggregate net revenue — a milestone achieved by only 1% of startups globally. This achievement underscores Niums rapid growth and leadership in enabling seamless global financial services for businesses.

About Nium

Nium, the global leader in 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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Media contacts:
Anjali DMello,
+6591812542,
[email protected] 

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Gold and Fractal EMS Announce a Partnership for an American BMS

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ANAHEIM, Calif., Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Fractal EMS Inc. (“Fractal”), a leading provider of advanced solar and storage controls, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Gold Electronic Equipment Inc. (“Gold”), a leading high-tech company specializing in R&D, active balancing technology and manufacturing of the battery management system (BMS). A signing ceremony and celebration was held on September 9th at the RE+ clean energy conference in Anaheim, California. The new partnership will provide a cybersecure American BMS to customers worldwide (“Fractal BMS”).

The Fractal BMS provides a 3-level BMS architecture (module, rack and system).  The design of the Fractal BMS has been finalized, featuring an American-sourced chip, printed circuit board assembly (PCBA), and cybersecurity, ensuring compliance with U.S. policies for sourcing and critical infrastructure protection. The Fractal BMS has the option to provide active cell balancing to maximize each battery cell’s useful capacity and life.

“Other companies proposing an American BMS have not addressed the cybersecurity concerns of the BMS. Some companies are licensing a foreign BMS or only providing a top-level device, neither of which cure cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. We are thrilled to collaborate with Gold to bring this advanced American BMS to the market. This partnership underscores our commitment to innovation, security, and supporting American technology,” said Daniel Crotzer, CEO at Fractal EMS.

Fractal BMS is scheduled for UL testing in late October 2024 and aims to become the gold standard for BESS deployments to mitigate risks associated with Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) and known cyber vulnerabilities in programmable devices. The American BMS will be available to battery manufacturers globally, offering a reliable and secure solution for battery management needs.

Pictured Mr. Daniel Crotzer, CEO of Fractal EMS Inc. (left) and Mr. Jian Hong Xu, CEO of Gold Electronic Equipment Inc. (right).

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Ascenda partners with Uber for first-of-a-kind points redemption for consumers worldwide

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NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ascenda, the global premium rewards network, today announced it has expanded its rewards network in order to enable fintech and banking clients’ customers to redeem their reward points in partnership with Uber. These credits will appear in users’ Uber wallets, and can be applied towards the cost of any of their products.

Uber is available in over 70 countries and powers over 30 million rideshares each day. With a global presence, the ability for millions of customers to earn Uber credits aims to deliver more engagement across Uber Rides, Uber Eats, and any other Uber offering in respective local markets.

“We’re committed to adding value for our users, with ease and flexibility at the forefront of our customer experience,” said Jenna Brown, Head of Uber for Business UK. “Our partnership with Ascenda will help us deliver this value to Uber users worldwide.”

“We’re building the most comprehensive consumer engagement ecosystem in the market,” said Josh Berwitz, CCO of Ascenda. “This exciting partnership with Uber enables us to bring tangible rewards and redemption experiences at scale, delivering compelling value and stronger relationships between our financial service clients, our rewards partners, and consumers.”

About Ascenda

Ascenda powers the growth of financial service brands and merchants globally with premium rewards propositions that accelerate customer acquisition, increase usage, and drive retention. Its best-in-class customer engagement platform is simple to deploy and powered by a unique global network of premium content that unlocks exceptional end-user value. 

For more information, please visit ascenda.com

About Uber

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 49 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

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