As the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, IFC is the world’s largest multilateral investor in the private sector in emerging markets. The Corporation invests in private companies in emerging economies to promote growth, help reduce poverty, and improve people’s lives.
IFC offers an array of financial products and services to its clients and continues to develop new financial tools that enable companies to manage risk and broaden their access to foreign and domestic capital markets. Learn more about Doing Business with IFC.
IFC has expanded its investments in the Middle East and North Africa region in the last few years. Since investing $315 million for 21 projects in fiscal year 2005, IFC's volume of annual commitments has grown. In fiscal year 2008, IFC investment commitments reached $1.4 billion for 50 projects, up from $1.2 billion for 40 projects in fiscal year 2007 and $668 million for 29 projects in fiscal year 2006. In fiscal year 2008, IFC's investment commitments were in 12 countries across the region. In addition, IFC was successful in mobilizing $819 million through syndications and structured and securitized products. More investment projects...
IFC FY05-FY08 Commitments ($ millions) in the Middle East and North Africa
| (financing in $ millions) | FY05 | FY06 | FY07 | FY08 |
| Number of projects | 21* | 29** | 40*** | 50**** |
| Number of countries | 8 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Financing for IFC's own account | $315 | $668 | $1,217 | $1,442 |
| Syndications | $0 | $0 | $210 | $531 |
* Includes BAPTFF and Melrose
** Includes Soco Facility and Violia AMI
*** Includes Melrose II and Melrose II Expansion and Italcementi
**** Includes MelroseResources
By number of projects, 32 percent of new investments are
IDA projects and 14 percent are in
conflict-affected countries. New sponsors accounted for 78 percent and South-South investments for 32 percent of total projects. Our portfolio continues to be spread across the region, with the highest concentration in the financial and infrastructure sectors. IFC's strategy in the region is to invest in several sectors, including:
Development Results
IFC’s activities in the region have generated tangible development results: they increased employment, mobilized additional funding for projects, and provided support to micro, small, and medium enterprises. IFC’s activities have resulted in loans of $3.6 billion to smaller businesses this year, nearly triple the volume provided in 2005. They have also helped generate 63,360 new jobs; almost doubled the number of customers reached by power generation, to 20 million; and reached nearly 550,000 patients through more investments in the health sector.
| Indicator | Portfolio CY06 | Portfolio CY07 | New Business Expectations FY08 |
| MSME loans (number of loans) | 206,860 | 851,710 | 1,088,950 |
| MSME loans (volume in $ million) | 2,397 | 3,612 | 4,334 |
| Power generated (millions of customers) | 16.6 | 19.9 | 2.5 |
| Employment | 64,180 | 63,360 | 15,850 |
| Local purchase of goods and services ($ million) | 474 | 602 | 29 |
| Payments to governments ($ million) | 561 | 787 | 1,039 |
Reach data for select industries; indicator definitions and reporting periods vary somewhat across industries. Some data from previous years have been revised. 
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