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
Ten Finalists Announced for the Reply AI Film Festival, the International Competition Bringing Together Cinema and Artificial Intelligence28.7.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
The jury, chaired by Gabriele Salvatores, will announce the winners in Venice on Sunday, 6 September. The Reply AI Film Festival returns for its third edition, reaffirming its role as a meeting point for cinema, creativity and artificial intelligence. The international competition created by Reply – open to creatives experimenting with new AI technologies and tools in the production of short films – has announced its ten finalists. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260728146486/en/ The international competition created by Reply – open to creatives experimenting with new AI technologies and tools in the production of short films – has announced its ten finalists. The festival will take place in Veniceduring the days of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival of La Biennale di Venezia. Selected from more than 3,000 short films submitted from 76 countries, the finalist works will take centre stage at the awards
USHIO Industry & Entertainment Announces Trademark Licensing Agreement for OSRAM-Branded Professional Technical Lighting Products28.7.2026 08:30:00 CEST | Press release
Agreement ensures continuity for customers while supporting USHIO Industry & Entertainment's business strategy USHIO Industry & Entertainment (USHIO INE) today announced the signing of a trademark licensing agreement with ams OSRAM, that enables the company to continue offering designated professional technical lighting products under the trusted OSRAM product brand. The agreement marks an important milestone following USHIO's acquisition of the former OSRAM Entertainment & Industry business and reinforces the company's commitment to ensuring continuity for customers, products and long-standing partnerships worldwide. For customers, the agreement provides continuity for professional technical lighting products that have earned a strong reputation across entertainment, cinema, industrial and other specialty lighting applications. These products will continue to be supported by USHIO Industry & Entertainment's global organization, technical expertise and customer service. "The signing of
Grindr for Equality Commits to Connecting 10M to HIV Prevention by 202827.7.2026 16:31:00 CEST | Press release
New report finds PrEP awareness is high but access is low, as global HIV funding shrinks Grindr steps up Today at the 2026 International AIDS Conference, Grindr for Equality committed to connecting ten million LGBTQ+ people to HIV prevention by 2028, leveraging its platform reach to advance the global effort to end HIV by 2030. The commitment is rooted in Closing the Gap, a new Grindr for Equality report drawing on survey data from Grindr users across ten countries. The central finding is consistent across countries: people know about PrEP but they are not taking it. The barrier is access and the funding that existed to address it is disappearing. "Connecting people is what Grindr does at a scale and in communities that traditional public health systems don't effectively reach," said George Arison, CEO and Chairman of Grindr (NYSE: GRND). "The global HIV response is losing critical funding at the exact moment we should be accelerating to end HIV by 2030. Grindr has the reach and the re
InterSystems Launches Data Studio AI Assistant to Accelerate Enterprise Data Exploration and Insights27.7.2026 16:00:00 CEST | Press release
New Generative AI extension simplifies how teams explore, analyze, and visualize enterprise data InterSystems, a creative data technology provider powering some of the world's most important applications, today announced the general availability of InterSystems Data Studio™ AI Assistant, a new generative AI-powered extension for InterSystems Data Studio that helps organizations more easily understand, navigate, query, and visualize data through natural language interactions. As organizations move from AI experimentation to production deployments, many are discovering that the greatest challenge is not the AI model itself, but providing AI systems with access to trusted, current, and business-ready information. Enterprise data is often fragmented across applications, databases, cloud services, files, data warehouses, and departmental silos, making it difficult for users and AI systems to generate reliable insights. “Organizations are increasingly looking for ways to turn their data into
PMI U.S. Opens $1.2 Billion Aurora Campus, Strengthening U.S. Manufacturing and Export Capabilities27.7.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Landmark investment advances U.S. manufacturing leadership, creates high-quality jobs, and positions the Colorado location as a strategic production and export hub Philip Morris International Inc.’s (PMI) (NYSE: PM) U.S. businesses (PMI U.S.) today celebrated the opening of its Aurora, Colorado manufacturing campus, a landmark investment representing total capital expenditures of $1.2 billion from 2024-2028. The campus expands the company’s domestic manufacturing capabilities, strengthens supply chain resilience, and positions Aurora as a strategic production and export hub supporting future growth. The site began commercial production in July 2026 and produces ZYN nicotine pouches, joining PMI U.S.’s growing modern nicotine manufacturing network, which includes operations in Owensboro, Kentucky, and Wilson, North Carolina. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260727514086/en/ PMI U.S. Opens $1.2 Billion Aurora Cam
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