BIBAN-GLOBAL
11.3.2023 15:33:40 CET | Business Wire | Press release
The Kafalah Program officially announced a partnership with a diverse selection of Saudi-based entities, pledging up to $1.5 billion in financing guarantees for the Kingdom’s burgeoning community of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230311005040/en/
Biban 23 is focused on fostering tangible opportunities for global entrepreneurs and investors (Photo: AETOSWire)
The announcement was made on the second day of Biban 2023, with the Kafalah Program — the leading loan risk guarantee program in the Kingdom and one of the largest loan risk guarantee programs in the region — fully aligned with the goals of Vision 2030.
The program’s $1.5 billion pledge was announced in conjunction with the signing of several agreements focused on developing the Saudi Arabian SME space.
This includes the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (Monsha'at) partnership with two of the world’s leading enablers of regional entrepreneurship.
In line with the Kingdom’s economic diversification, Monsha’at has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman’s SME Development Authority. The agreement will bring Monsh’aat and the SME Development Authority together to enhance the SME ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and Oman, promoting trade and entrepreneurship between both countries.
Monsha’at also signed an MoU with the Visa International Service Association (VISA). As part of the agreement, both parties will collaborate to enhance joint-cooperation and support VISA’s “She’s Next” initiative: a female empowerment program established to equip female entrepreneurs with the tools to grow their businesses. The initiative support Saudi businesswomen in achieving their objectives and attaining sustainable success.
Worth over $1.5 billion, these partnerships join the wide-ranging agreements launched at Biban 2023. Bringing entrepreneurs, SME owners, investors, and policymakers from around the world together, the event — taking place from March 9 to March 13, 2023.
Saud Alsabhan, Vice Governor of Monsha’at for Entrepreneurship, said: “At a time when innovation has never been more important to overcoming persistent global challenges, safeguarding the future and creating a greater, more prosperous Saudi Arabia, Biban continues to provide some of the world’s leading business minds a fitting platform to network, collaborate and create."
He continued: “In just two days, we have brought changemaking entities and innovators together to launch landmark agreements that will enhance the Kingdom’s SME ecosystem, bolster the national economy, and secure our future.”
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230311005040/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
K2 Partnering Solutions Appoints Srinivas Rao as Chief Executive Officer16.2.2026 10:00:00 CET | Press release
K2 Partnering Solutions, a global leader in consultative technology and talent solutions, today announced the appointment of Srinivas Rao as Chief Executive Officer. Srinivas is a seasoned global executive with more than 28 years of experience driving value creation, scalable growth, and operational transformation across digital, consulting, IT services, and business services. He brings deep expertise in leading complex, multi-market organisations and has successfully scaled $800M+ P&Ls, working closely with boards, sponsors, and executive leadership teams across the USA, UK, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC. Most recently, Srinivas served as Chief Business Officer and a member of the Executive Council at LTIMindtree, where he was accountable for growth acceleration, market expansion, strategic customer relationships, and operating performance across a highly complex regional footprint. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in strengthening go-to-market execution, driving margin
Italy Sees Economic Boost From the Opening Weekend of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 202616.2.2026 09:00:00 CET | Press release
Northern Italy sees more than 60% increase in Visa cardholder visitors from overseas, with an increase in purchases up 80% compared to the same period in 2025 Significant increase in spending from Visa cardholders in many areas of commerce including Clothing & Accessories, Restaurants and Mobility & Transport Biggest share of spend comes from U.S. Visa cardholders, with most significant increases in year-on-year spending from Canada and Switzerland Visa, the Official Payment Technology Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, today released new data revealing consumer spending patterns in the Winter Games host locations1 during the opening weekend of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. VisaNet data analysed by Visa Consulting & Analytics (VCA) shows the positive impact that Milano Cortina 2026 is having on commerce: Overseas Visa cardholders visits rose by more than 60%, with the largest share of visitors coming from the U.S. (+160% year-on-year), followed by China
Klarna Launches on Google Pay in the UK16.2.2026 09:00:00 CET | Press release
Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, is now available on Google Pay in the UK. Google Pay users in the U.K. can choose Klarna’s interest-free payment options at checkout. Raji Behal, Head of Western and Southern Europe, UK & Ireland at Klarna, said, “We’re really excited to bring Klarna’s fair, flexible and interest-free payment options to Google Pay users. This is a big moment for us and a major step towards our goal of being available at every checkout, everywhere. Together with Google, we’re making it easier than ever for millions of shoppers to choose Klarna and pay in a smarter, more transparent way — all from their phone.” Lisa Yokoyama, Director of Product Management at Google Paysaid: "Expanding our collaboration with Klarna to the U.K. underscores our goal to empower more people with the flexibility to pay how they choose. With people shopping on Google over a billion times a day, this broader footprint provides even more checkout options to help bus
New ECCO data show subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (Remsima™ SC) effectively recaptures and maintains disease control after drug holiday16.2.2026 08:00:00 CET | Press release
A new post-hoc analysis from the LIBERTY studies, presented at ECCO 2026, demonstrated that initiating subcutaneous (SC) infliximab (Remsima™ SC) after a treatment interruption following intravenous (IV) infliximab induction helps patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) recapture and maintain disease control1The results demonstrated that SC infliximab provides an effective and safe option to regain clinical control after a planned or unplanned treatment interruptionMore than a total of 30 accepted abstracts including one oral and one digital oral presentation and eight posters, reinforce Celltrion’s commitment to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research aimed at enhancing patient outcomes Celltrion, Inc. today announced new data from a post-hoc analysis of the pivotal LIBERTY studies (LIBERTY-CD and LIBERTY-UC), showing that subcutaneous (SC) infliximab restored and maintained response in most Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with sustai
Galderma Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer16.2.2026 07:00:00 CET | Press release
Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Galderma Group AG (SIX:GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced the appointment of Luigi La Corte as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective May 1, 2026. Luigi La Corte will join Galderma on April 1 to begin a smooth and orderly transition with Thomas Dittrich, who has served as CFO of Galderma since October 2019. As previously announced, Thomas will remain with the company through Q2 2026 to ensure a seamless transition before pursuing another senior executive opportunity outside the organization. “Luigi La Corte is an accomplished financial leader with deep experience across global healthcare and consumer organizations. I am delighted to welcome him to the Executive Committee and look forward to working with him closely as we continue to execute our Integrated Dermatology Strategy and extend our category leadership in dermatology. I would also like to thank Thomas for his commitment to ensuring a seamless transition
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom