- December 16, 2022
EPISODE #
#44 IFC’s Sufyan Al Issa on responsible and inclusive investing
About this episode
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. They are mandated to support growth and development in emerging markets.
The IFC has recently announced a new $225Mn platform to invest in startups in the region and I speak to the Head of the IFC in the UAE, Sufyan Al Issa to learn more about how we (SMEs, entrepreneurs) can tap into these funds. If you are an entrepreneur looking to build a business that meets the region’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in fields such as climate, agriculture, education, etc. Then the IFC could potentially provide you with the funding you need.
Sufyan and I discuss the gender gap that has been plaguing our region for decades now and while some countries like the UAE have made big strides in becoming more inclusive, the rest of the region trails behind. What can we do about it? Sufyan talks about some of the initiatives that are run by the IFC to support but more is needed.
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guest profile
Sufyan Al Issa, Ph.D
Sufyan AL-Issa is Head of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in the UAE, part of the World Bank Group. Prior to this position, he was the Regional Head of Operations for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and a principal investment officer and regional program leader at IFC, covering both investment and advisory services, with a focus on skills, education and entrepreneurship in MENA, and a track record of working on strategic initiatives and in conflict-affected states.
Al-Issa has more than 20 years of experience in the global financial sector, including dealing with economic policies and issues, and connecting finance with investment opportunities and fund mobilization. Prior to joining IFC, he was a Senior Advisor to the Dean of the Board and Executive Director for the Middle East at the World Bank Group, following positions at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and University of Oxford. Sufyan is a certified public accountant and holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London.