Jeddah, KSA: The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the export credit and investment insurance agency of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed yesterday a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with  Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), the Export Credit Agency (ECA) of Japan, whereby the two entities expressed their willingness to strengthen and further expand their existing cooperation.

The MoU was signed virtually by Mr Oussama KAISSI, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, and Mr Atsuo Kuroda, Chairman and CEO of NEXI.  

ICIEC and NEXI are already cooperating in a reinsurance framework to cover projects in ICIEC member countries. Today's agreement follows the signing of an MoU on 27th August 2019 for Accelerating Trade and Investments Targeting Africa by Japanese Companies between the two parties.

Under the new MoU, ICIEC and NEXI plan to strengthen and expand the strategic partnership in greenfield projects being significant to Japan and the ICIEC member countries, conforming to ICIEC's mandate and NEXI’s strategy.

The two parties are particularly interested in jointly supporting greenfield projects in the Middle East, Central Asia and African countries.

This new cooperation may include the provision of Co-Insurance and Reinsurance. The aim is also to leverage ICIEC's extensive local knowledge and networking in member countries in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the MENA region. In this respect and of greenfield projects, ICIEC may assist NEXI in its due diligence process for such projects, including on-site due diligence.

"This new MoU," says Mr Oussama KAISSI, CEO of ICIEC, "further consolidates our long-standing and growing partnership with NEXI in supporting bankable projects and inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into our member countries in the MENA and SSA regions. Through our respective suites of de-risking solutions, we hope to boost the involvement of public-private partnerships in much-needed development and infrastructure projects in the mutually targeted countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and African countries".

"We plan to cooperate in developing the business environment to facilitate financing proposals from Japanese companies through the active underwriting of projects and the provision of reinsurance facilities. ICIEC has a long history of operations in the organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries. Japanese companies wish to expand their presence in the Middle East, Central Asia and African countries. This occasion represents a welcome opportunity to capitalize on our mutual strengths to carry out our core mandates of helping countries and the lives and livelihoods of their citizens."

Mr Atsuo Kuroda, Chairman and CEO of NEXI, commented at the virtual signing of the MoU: "Since signing the previous MOU in August 2019, ICIEC and NEXI have been closely working together to explore potential areas of cooperation. In that sense, the reinsurance framework we have established is the first major accomplishment that will solidify the two institutions' further cooperation. Acknowledging that there are many possible forms of cooperation other than reinsurance, the purpose of the new MOU is not only to further strengthen the relationship between ICIEC and NEXI but to take our cooperation to a whole new level, which the next goal is to collaborate in greenfield projects that are significant for ICIEC member countries and Japan. It is expected of such greenfield projects to bring about many positive impacts, such as assisting countries to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as open doors for significant economic development."

-Ends-

About ICIEC

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICIEC is the export credit and investment insurance agency and provider of insurance and reinsurance of the IsDB Group. ICIEC was established in 1994 as a multilateral institution to strengthen the economic relations between the OIC member countries. ICIEC's vision is to be recognized as the preferred enabler of trade and investment for sustainable economic development in Member Countries. Its mission is to facilitate trade and investment between member countries and the world by providing Shariah-compliant risk mitigation tools and financial solutions. For more information, visit:    http://iciec.isdb.org 

For media inquiries, please contact:
Rania Binhimd, Communications Planner
Email: Rbinhimd@isdb.org 

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.