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Janus Henderson Launches $300M Fund to Support MENA SMEs

10/7/2025

23 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Janus Henderson launched the USD 300 million Shariah-compliant Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Private Credit Fund IV.
The fund has USD 125.5 million in initial commitments.
It aims to close a USD 250 billion financing gap for underserved MENA SMEs.
Indian NBFCs are expanding digital MSME lending, enabling lower interest rates and broader access.

History

Historical Context

In 2013, the Islamic Development Bank launched a USD 1.5 billion initiative to address the USD 250 billion financing gap for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the MENA region. This effort reflects a broader trend of increasing financial inclusion and economic growth in the region, as evidenced by Janus Henderson's recent establishment of a USD 300 million Shariah-compliant fund to support these underserved businesses.

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Story summary

Janus Henderson launched the USD 300 million Shariah-compliant Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Private Credit Fund IV.
The fund has USD 125.5 million in initial commitments.
It aims to close a USD 250 billion financing gap for underserved MENA SMEs.
Indian NBFCs are expanding digital MSME lending, enabling lower interest rates and broader access.

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