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Jaiz Bank Gets $25m MSMEs Financing From Islamic Corporation

Oluwasina Phillip

Jaiz Bank Plc has received a $25m shariah-compliant line of financing from Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector to support Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.

The Chief Executive of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Ayman Sejiny; and Hassan Usman, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Jaiz Bank, signed the $25m LOF agreement to support the SMEs in Nigeria, including those adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The contract details indicate that out of the $25m funds provided, $10m is allocated under the ICD’s $250m COVID-19 support package to help the private sector affected by the pandemic by leveraging on the expertise of the banking system of its member countries.

ICD’s line of financing, according to a statement on Sunday will help to expand Jaiz Bank’s customer base by the provision of Shariah-compliant financing in response to a growing demand for Islamic finance to support, among others, COVID-19 affected projects and industries.

The statement reads, “Continuous cooperation between ICD and Jaiz Bank, the pioneer in Islamic banking in Nigeria, will result in easier access by SMEs to Shariah-compliant financing that will meet their funding needs, as well as assist in keeping businesses open.

“It will also preserve jobs, which is in line with ICD’s commitments to help the Nigerian economy to overcome the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen financial inclusion.

“We have no doubt that this line of financing facility will provide much needed support to private sector businesses including those which have been affected by the pandemic.”

Also, Hassan Usman said, “We are delighted with this partnership with ICD which has started in 2018 with a $20m Line of Finance to support SME’s in Nigeria.

“The Line was fully utilized by eligible SME’s with a substantial portion going to the Agricultural sector.

“The facility was fully repaid earlier this year and has helped in generating over 791 direct jobs and put the Bank among the major Banks in repatriating non-oil export proceeds for the country.

“The additional $25m line of financing facility will further enhance the Bank’s capacity to continue to provide support to the local private sector enterprises with substantial socio-economic impact”.

Usman said that Jaiz bank appreciates ICD for extending this facility in such a challenging time due to the COVID-19 Pandemic when economies need banks to further support their customers, especially SMEs in order to foster economic growth and direct job creation.

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