CASABLANCA, Morocco, July 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI), in partnership with BANK OF AFRICA, and supported by the Casablanca Finance City Authority (CFCA), successfully concluded the two-day Forum in Casablanca. Approximately 250 participants from 39 jurisdictions joined on-site and online to explore sustainable finance and green technologies in support of Africa’s resilient growth and sustainable future.

Against the backdrop of intensifying climate risks and the global shift toward low-carbon development, the forum addressed four core themes: Carbon Markets and Climate Finance Mobilisation, Transition Finance for Emerging Economies, Financing Climate Adaptation and Resilience, and Advancing Sustainability Disclosure.

The forum opened with welcoming remarks from Dr. Ma Jun, Chairman of CASI, who shared his perspective that sustainable finance in Africa should go beyond carbon mitigation, embracing access to water, food, and energy as part of a more holistic approach to the continent’s development. He also highlighted the growing opportunities ahead for China-Africa green collaboration, from clean technology partnerships to new pathways for affordable green financing. Mr. Brahim Benjelloun-Touimi, Board Member of BANK OF AFRICA and Chairman of the Board of Bourse de Casablanca, urged financial institutions to act as trusted partners in their clients’ decarbonisation journeys rather than merely as providers of capital, concluding with a rallying call: “Africa should not merely be a beneficiary of global sustainable finance; it must become one of its leading contributors.”

A major highlight of the forum was the formalisation of three strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between CASI and BANK OF AFRICA, The ESG Exchange, and CFCA. Said Ibrahimi, CEO of CFCA, and Dr. Ma Jun signed the MoU establishing a strategic framework to accelerate green finance across the continent. Together, these partnerships create a comprehensive framework for joint training, professional certification, research, and cross-border knowledge exchange across African markets.

The forum also marked the official launch of French-language courses on CASI Academy, extending capacity-building access to francophone audiences across the region.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Ma Jun emphasised the role of AI-powered tools in reducing disclosure costs for SMEs. The forum concluded with an invitation to join the next CASI Sustainability Forum, to be held in Hong Kong in September 2026 during Green Week.

For more information, please visit www.casi.net.

Contact:
Jessica Tsang  
jessica.tsang@sprinkles.org.hk 
+852-96630780

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In the news release, Disrupting SME Lending: SmartLend Launches Free, Digital Loan Platform, issued 12-Jun-2025 by SMARTLEND FINANCIAL PTE. LTD. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The following sentence has been removed from the release: “The platform integrates with Singpass and Credit Bureau Singapore (CBS), allowing real-time retrieval of financial data and significantly reducing application time.” No other changes have been made to the release. The complete, corrected release follows:

Disrupting SME Lending: SmartLend Launches Free, Digital Loan Platform

SINGAPORE, June 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SmartLend, a fully digital alternative financing platform, has officially launched in Singapore, offering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a faster, more transparent way to secure funding.

By eliminating third-party brokers and unnecessary costs, SmartLend simplifies the financing process, enabling businesses to compare and obtain loans efficiently without hidden fees.

For many SMEs, securing financing from traditional banks remains challenging due to stringent credit requirements and complex application procedures. Those who explore alternative financing often rely on brokers who charge high fees—typically between 3% and 7%—or impose undisclosed costs.

SmartLend removes these barriers with a free-to-use platform that provides SMEs with a clear and unbiased view of their financing options, ensuring they secure the best possible funding quickly and cost-effectively.

What once took days of paperwork can now be completed in just minutes.

By connecting SMEs directly with a network of trusted lenders, SmartLend ensures a transparent and cost-effective borrowing experience. Removing intermediaries benefits both businesses and lenders, creating a more streamlined and efficient financing ecosystem.

Unlike traditional loan aggregators, SmartLend’s intelligent matching engine prioritises the most cost-effective bank financing first, only recommending alternative lenders when necessary. This ensures businesses always receive the best possible financing terms.

According to Danny Phua, CEO of SmartLend, the platform builds upon the success of Smart Towkay, a comparison platform that has helped over 5,000 SMEs secure more than S$100 million in funding.

However, the process was still largely manual, requiring businesses to sift through offers and handle paperwork. SmartLend takes this further by automating the entire journey—from loan matching to application—providing businesses with a seamless, digital-first experience.

By integrating automation, SmartLend makes alternative financing more accessible, efficient, and borrower-friendly.

Beyond business loans, SmartLend is expanding its offerings to include property equity term loans, allowing SMEs to unlock capital using their assets, providing them with greater financial flexibility.

Future features will include an instant property valuation tool, enabling businesses to assess their assets in real time, and a document vault, allowing SMEs to track and manage loans across multiple lenders from a single platform.

Phua emphasised that the platform’s goal is to empower SMEs by giving them full control over their financing journey without unnecessary delays or consultancy costs. With its innovative approach, SmartLend is set to transform the way businesses in Singapore access funding, making alternative financing more transparent, accessible, and cost-effective.

CONTACT: Danny Phua, Hello@smart-lend.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/c-o-r-r-e-c-t-i-o-n—-smartlend-financial-pte-ltd-302817508.html

SOURCE SMARTLEND FINANCIAL PTE. LTD.

MUNICH, July 3, 2026 /CNW/ — FC Bayern and LEDVANCE announce a long-term partnership running through 2029. LEDVANCE will become Official Lighting Partner of the German record champions and will work with FC Bayern exclusively in the category “lighting technology and lighting solutions”. Both are united by shared ambitions and proximity: they are rooted in Munich, with LEDVANCE’s headquarters in direct sight of the Allianz Arena.

– Picture is available at AP –

Rouven Kasper, FC Bayern Board Member for Marketing & Sales: “FC Bayern and LEDVANCE are united by their commitment to showcasing success in the right light. Elite sport is all about emotion, energy and special moments, and in LEDVANCE we have gained a strong partner who, like our club, has its roots in Munich whilst also being at home all over the world. We look forward to many successful years together.”

Fredrik Ergert von Gillern, Global Head of Brand & Communication at LEDVANCE: “It is no coincidence that this partnership has been formed in Munich: our headquarter is within direct sight of the Allianz Arena. With FC Bayern, we’re demonstrating what lighting can achieve, in terms of performance, safety and atmosphere. With this partnership we are further expanding our international project business and shaping the future of sports venues and beyond, while strengthening our global brand perception and sharpening our positioning.”

FC Bayern has already relied on LEDVANCE for some lighting projects, and further projects are currently being implemented. At the heart of the partnership lie the shared values and strategic collaboration. Sport is pure emotion, and lighting makes it visible. This shared ambition is to inspire people, create special experiences and further strengthen both partners’ positions. With a modern approach and a global focus on growth, FC Bayern and LEDVANCE aim to combine their strengths in the future.

More information here.

Press contact
Patrizia Fauster / Ida Heldt
Mail: LedvanceGlobal@teamlewis.com
Phone: +49 89 17 30 19 -32 / -13

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ledvance-becomes-official-lighting-partner-of-fc-bayern-302817497.html

SOURCE LEDVANCE