SBI chief, BFSI News, ET BFSI

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India is ready to move into the next orbit of growth with the hugely successful implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program, State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara said on Saturday.

The kind of vaccine drive the country has seen makes all the Indians proud, especially because the domestically produced vaccine is being used in a big way, Khara said at the India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai.

“Actually, it (rapid vaccination) has enhanced the confidence level of the common man as well as the economy,” he said.

India recently achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark.

“The country has lived through one of the most challenging times and has come out of it in a very successful manner that gives the confidence that going forward, the journey should be rather easy, and we should be having a huge opportunity for growth… which I am sure will go a long way in terms of meeting the common man’s aspirations,” he said.

The credit growth in the economy was quite muted for almost two years, he said, expressing hope that the capacity utilisation will improve, and help revive investment demand in the corporate sector.

“The government has done a wonderful job by continuing its focus on infrastructure investment, which has gone a long way in terms of giving a push to the core sectors of the economy. And with private corporate sectors coming with the investment, the economy will certainly move to the next orbit of development,” he added.

On the India Pavilion, Khara said it is presenting the real India, which is full of opportunities, to the whole world in an impressive manner.



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MOVES-Goldman hires Citi banker as co-head of investment banking in MENA

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DUBAI, Sept 5 – Goldman Sachs has hired senior Citigroup banker Jassim AlSane as its co-head of investment banking in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

AlSane, a Kuwaiti national, has spent 13 years with Citi where he has most recently been managing director in its investment banking unit, focusing on mostly Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, one of the sources said.

Goldman has also hired Omar AlZaim from HSBC as head of investment banking for Saudi Arabia, one of the sources said.

Goldman Sachs and HSBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Citi declined to comment.

Bloomberg reported the news of the appointments earlier on Sunday.

Goldman Sachs has been pushing to win deals in Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, where initial public offerings (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions are on the up.

It landed a lead role https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/abu-dhabis-adnoc-adds-goldman-sachs-lead-banks-drilling-ipo-sources-2021-07-01 in the IPO of ADNOC’s drilling unit, sources said in July, in it first such high-profile deal in the emirate since 2019.

Goldman’s investment banking unit was sidelined from any new business from Abu Dhabi more than two years ago after state fund Mubadala’s subsidiary filed a lawsuit against it to recover losses suffered through its dealings with Malaysia’s fund 1MDB.

The lawsuit was dropped last year.

In Saudi Arabia, Goldman is advising on the sale of Saudi Aramco’s gas pipelines stake sale and previously worked on Aramco’s IPO. (Reporting by Davide Barbuscia and Saeed Azhar; Editing by Pravin Char)



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HSBC commits $5 bln in corporate lending to help UAE growth, BFSI News, ET BFSI

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DUBAI: HSBC said on Sunday it is committing $5 billion in lending to “strong” companies in the United Arab Emirates to help drive the Gulf country’s growth plans.

The UAE‘s economy suffered in 2020, as vital sectors like tourism and hospitality were crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Companies, government-linked institutions, as well as sovereigns Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, have borrowed billions to bolster their finances and fund spending.

“Our research clearly indicates that UAE companies are ready to invest internationally and sustainably.” Abdulfattah Sharaf, HSBC’s CEO for the UAE and head of international, said.

“Our US$5 billion commitment, between now and 2023, will support plans that strong companies have to enter new trade markets, re-engineer their supply chains, to innovate – and to play an active part in helping shape the nation’s future growth story.” Sharaf added in a statement.

The commitment by the British bank marks 75 years since HSBC opened its business in the UAE, which is a major oil producer as well as a trade and commerce hub.

HSBC said its Navigator 2020 report showed 81% of companies in the UAE were expected to increase investment spending by end-2021, compared to 66% globally.



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Iran bans cryptocurrency mining for 4 months amid power cuts, BFSI News, ET BFSI

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DUBAI: Iran has banned the energy-intensive mining of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for nearly 4 months, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, as the country faces major power blackouts in many cities.

“The ban on the mining of cryptocurrencies is effective immediately until September 22 … Some 85% of the current mining in Iran is unlicensed,” Rouhani said in a televised speech at a cabinet meeting.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are created through a process known as mining, where powerful computers compete with each other to solve complex mathematical problems. The process is highly energy intensive, often relying on electricity generated by fossil fuels, which Iran is rich in.

As next month’s presidential election approaches, the blackouts have been widely criticised by Iranians. The government has blamed the power cuts on cryptocurrency mining, drought and surging electricity demand in summer.

According to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, around 4.5% of all Bitcoin mining takes place in Iran, allowing it to earn hundreds of millions of dollars from cryptocurrencies that can be used to lessen the impact of US sanctions.

Iran’s economy has been hit hard since 2018, when former President Donald Trump exited Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reimposed sanctions.

US President Joe Biden‘s administration and other global powers have been in talks with Iran to revive the deal.

Iran has accepted crypto mining in recent years, offering cheap power and requiring miners to sell their bitcoins to the central bank. Tehran allows cryptocurrencies mined in Iran to be used to pay for imports of authorised goods.

The prospect of cheap power has attracted miners, particularly from China, to Iran. Generating the electricity they use requires the equivalent of around 10 million barrels of crude oil a year, or 4% of total Iranian oil exports in 2020, according to Elliptic.



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