Finance: Middle East & Africa

Developments in transport finance, PPP, debt, equity, M&A deals from Middle East & Africa

• Ethiopia–Sudan standard gauge project study secures funding

  June 16, 2020
  The African Development Bank (ADB) has awarded a USD1.2 million grant to the government of Ethiopia to fund a two-year comprehensive feasibility study for the construction of a 1,522-km standard gauge line from Addis Ababa to Khartoum.

• Addis Ababa BRT secures USD93 million concessional loan from South Korea, Ethiopia

  April 1, 2020
  Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and land information management system (LIMS) has received a concessional loan of USD93 million from South Korea.

• IFC to extend USD100 million loan for Casablanca Tramway extension, Morocco

  January 13, 2020
  The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, has announced plans to extend a load of USD100 million to finance the construction of Casablanca Tramway Lines 3 and 4.

• EBRD loan to fund Tunis train procurement, Tunisia

  December 18, 2019
  Tunis Transport Company (TRANSTU) has signed a EUR45 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to procure 18 new light rail vehicles (LRVs), which will replace the existing rolling stock on the Tunis–Goulette–Marsa light rail transit (LRT) line, connecting Tunis’s city centre with La Marsa.

• Abu Dhabi to invest AED473 million in public transport buses, UAE [free access]

  August 24, 2019
  Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has announced plans to purchase 327 buses at an investment of AED473 million to develop the public transport network.

• SAPTCO to invest in KEC Medina, Saudi Arabia

  July 23, 2019
  The Saudi Arabia Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Saudi Arabia’s Knowledge Economic City (KEC) to establish a joint venture (JV) to investment in KEC’s Medina project.

• Kenya allocates KES5.53 billion for bus-only lanes in Nairobi

  May 18, 2019
  The National Treasury of Kenya has allocated KES5.53 billion to develop exclusive lanes for high-capacity buses planned to be deployed in Nairobi.

• EXIM China to finance Cairo LRT, Egypt

  January 18, 2019
  The Export and Import Bank of China has signed a loan agreement with Egypt’s Ministry of Transport to provide a USD1.2 billion soft loan for the Greater Cairo light rail transit (LRT).

• EU to fund Nairobi BRT, Kenya

  October 31, 2018
  The European Union (EU) has approved a grant of USD48.75 million for the development of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Nairobi.

• Passenger service commences on Abuja LRT; EXIM China to finance LRV procurement, Nigeria

  July 13, 2018
  Passenger services have commenced on Phase I of Abuja light rail transit (LRT).

• EIB to finance suburban train procurement in Tunis

  April 18, 2018
  The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved financing of EUR45 million for the procurement of 18 trains by Transtu, the public transport company of the Greater Tunis Area.

• Angola receives AfDB financing for National Transport plan, to increase operating buses in Luanda

  March 30, 2018
  The African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided USD 4 million for the Transport Sector National Steering Plan released in Luanda.

• Dubai secures funds for Metro Route 2020

  March 23, 2018
  Dubai’s Department of Finance has completed the USD2.45-billion infrastructure financing programme of the Route 2020 project of Dubai Metro.

• World Bank to finance Beirut BRT PPP, Lebanon

  March 16, 2018
  The World Bank has approved funding of USD295 million to develop a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Beirut on public private partnership (PPP) model.

• EIB funds Rabat-Salé Tramway Line 2 extension

  March 8, 2018
  The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR40-million loan agreement with Société du Tramway de Rabat Salé (STRS)/Rabat-Salé Tramway Company for the extension of Line 2.

• Côte d’Ivoire secures CFA59 billion for the purchase of 450 Iveco buses

  March 5, 2018
  The Government of Côte d’Ivoire, on behalf of SOTRA, a public transport company in Abidjan, has signed a CFA59 billion loan agreement with the Czech Republic-based Ceskoslovenská Obchodni Banka (CSOB) to purchase 450 Iveco buses

• AFD, EIB and EBRD to finance Cairo Metro and Alexandria Tram

  February 26, 2018
  France-based Agence française de développement (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have announced plans to provide total financing of EUR600 million for the rehabilitation of Cairo Metro Line 1.

• EIB approves financing for Dakar BRT and Rabat LRT

  February 13, 2018
  The Board of the European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved funding for urban transport projects in Rabat (Morocco) and Dakar (Senegal).

• EBRD to finance Cairo Metro Line 1 rehabilitation, Egypt

  February 8, 2018
  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) proposes to provide a EUR130-million loan to the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) for the rehabilitation of Cairo Metro Line 1.

• SAPTCO secures loan to procure 50 new buses, Saudi Arabia

  January 2, 2018
  The Saudi Arabia Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) has secured a SAR61.5 million-loan from the Al Rajhi Bank to procure 50 Mercedes-Benz buses.