Nigeria’s federal executive council will apply for a $1 billion loan from China Exim Bank for the multipurpose 360MW Gurara II hydropower project on the River Gurara in Niger State

The Palestinian Water Authority will invite bids for the first of two contracts to build the $650 million Gaza Central Desalination Plant and Associated Works Programme which also includes three captive power plants

The European Investment Bank has approved of a $13.5 million loan for two IFC Scaling Solar projects being developed in Senegal by an Engie-led consortium

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank has officially launched its $2.5 billion inaugural bond on the main market of the London Stock Exchange today (15 May 2019)

Timor-Leste has awarded a Japanese firm an advisory mandate on the Dili airport brownfield PPP in the nation’s capital, following a two month-evaluation period

El Salvador’s Energía del Pacífico (EDP) has requested a $115 million loan from IDB Invest to finance the construction of a power facility and LNG terminal

Blockchain trade finance network Marco Polo continues to expand its community, with Banco Bradesco of Brazil the latest financial institution to become a member

The board of directors for the East African Development Bank has hired Francis Ogwang as its new country manager for Uganda

Finland-based bank Nordea has announced that it will be opening up the we.trade blockchain platform to all of its SME clients

The UK government’s Department for International Development (DFID) has provided a £31 million subordinated convertible loan to the Currency Exchange Fund (TCX)

Mexico’s state-owned Pemex has scrapped a tender for private firms to build the Dos Bocas refinery with the government opting to go it alone

Oil and gas exploration and production company Occidental is to acquire all outstanding shares in Anadarko Petroleum following the confirmation of a definitive merger agreement

Australian minerals company Prospect Resources has cancelled a $10 million loan facility intended for the $460 million Arcadia Lithium Project in near Harare, Zimbabwe

The US Senate on 8 May (2019) confirmed three nominees made by President Trump to the board of US Exim, restoring a quorum to the ECA for the first time since July 2015

KfW and the government of Zambia has prequalified 30 firms for the second round of the country’s GET FiT renewables programme, which consists of 100MW of hydropower projects

Colombia’s Century Energy Corporation has requested $60 million in support loans from IDB Invest to help finance two small-scale hydropower plants – San Bartolomé and Oibita

Tradewind has signed a $1 million credit facility for a leading US-based canine screening and security service for the air cargo industry

Raiffeisen Bank International has joined a burgeoning list of financial institutions to join the Marco Polo blockchain trade finance network

HSBC has appointed Singapore-based Tze Tze Lee as its head of product and propositions within its global trade and receivables team