SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions
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SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

SME Bank Allocates 10.5 Billion Riyals to SME Funding Solutions

The Small and Medium Enterprises Bank (SME Bank), a development bank under the National Development Fund, announced allocating an amount of 10.5 billion riyals to support the small and medium enterprises sector, through existing and new financing programs offered by the Bank, including direct and indirect lending programs, financing guarantee, and investment solutions during the next three years.

This falls in line with the continuous support provided by the Saudi leadership and the efforts of SME Bank to provide innovative and scalable funding solutions to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and raise the sector’s contribution to the GDP to 35%.

SME Bank Acting Chief Executive Officer Abdurrahman bin Mohammed bin Mansour said that “SME Bank” seeks to increase the financing provided to small and medium enterprises,
and enhance the contribution of financial institutions in providing innovative financing solutions, which contributes to the growth and prosperity of this vital sector.

He also confirmed that the bank's business started recently by introducing 6 main financing products that were developed based on the needs of small and medium enterprises. SMEs can now apply for financing through the website of the SME Bank, which provides access to more than 48 financing institutions in the Kingdom.



Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
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Riyadh Hosts Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum

Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the forum on Monday. (SPA)

The Saudi-Egyptian Industrial Forum kicked off in Riyadh on Monday under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef. The forum aims to bolster strategic industrial cooperation and integration between the two countries.

Organized by the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Federation of Egyptian Industries, the forum witnessed the participation of Deputy Minister for Industrial Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah, Saudi Export Development Authority CEO Abdulrahman Althukair, and 300 prominent Saudi and Egyptian industry leaders and investors.

Bin Salamah underscored the significance of strengthening economic cooperation and industrial integration between Saudi Arabia and Egypt. He advocated for enhanced industrial partnerships within five priority sectors identified in the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy: pharmaceuticals, automotive, building materials, textiles, and food industries.

He highlighted the evolving strategic integration between the two countries across initiatives like "Saudi Made,Future Factories," and "Made in Egypt," as well as in the broader goods and services sector. Bin Salamah urged Egyptian industrialists to capitalize on the industrial investment opportunities available in the Kingdom, citing its ambitious plans to establish 24,000 new factories over the next decade.

Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Chairman Hassan Alhwaizy hailed the forum as a crucial milestone in Saudi-Egyptian industrial collaboration, emphasizing the strategic partnership underpinning their economic relations, particularly in the industrial sector.

Federation of Egyptian Industries Chairman Mohamed El-Sewedy stated that current global challenges are accelerating the need for industrial integration between the two countries, strengthening their partnership to tap into the African market's potential.

Saudi-Egyptian Business Council Chairman Bandar Al-Ameri highlighted the substantial growth in trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in recent years, fueled by developing economic partnerships between their respective business communities. He emphasized that signing the agreement to protect and encourage mutual investments represents a strategic achievement serving their shared interests.