Dubai-based pan-African integrated industrial zone developer and operator ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP), founded in 2010, has announced that it has successfully raised $700-million in capital, and has gained a new shareholder, Saudi Arabian infrastructure investment and development group Vision Invest. ARISE IIP’s founding shareholders are the African Finance Corporation (AFC) and Dubai-based emerging economies-focused sustainable economic development group Equitane, as well as the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) and Afreximbank’s development impact platform.

“ARISE has always believed in Africa’s promise and the talent driving its growth,” affirmed ARISE IIP founder and CEO Gagan Gupta. “The partnership with Vision Invest and the continued support of our institutional shareholders will help us build resilient, self-sustaining industrial ecosystems that deliver long-term value.”

“This marks our first direct investment in Africa and a natural extension of our values and impact investment philosophy, which centres on the socioeconomic development of the communities in which we invest,” highlighted Vision Invest chairperson Mohammad A Abunayyan. “We are proud to partner with AFC, FEDA, and Equitane to support economic diversification and local development.”

During the capital raise and investment deal, Standard Chartered Bank and Norton Rose Fulbright served as exclusive advisers to ARISE IIP. Vision Invest was advised by EFG Hermes and Linklaters.

“ARISE IIP represents the ideal platform for Vision Invest’s entry into Africa, combining world-class execution, an institutional shareholder base, and an operating model that focuses on in-country beneficiation,” pointed out Vision Invest president and CEO Omar N Al-Midani. “We look forward to building long-term value together.”

Active in more than 14 countries, ARISE IIP has deployed almost $2-billion in infrastructure and enabled more than 50 000 jobs. It focused on the transformation of raw materials and import substitution, to create local value.

“ARISE IIP has demonstrated what is possible when global capital aligns with Africa’s ambitions,” stressed AFC president and CEO, and ARISE IIP chairperson, Samaila Zubairu. “We are proud to deepen our partnership and support ARISE IIP as its scales industrial transformation across the continent.”

“We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to ARISE IIP by participating in this historic capital raise,” noted FEDA CEO Marlene Ngoyi. “ARISE IIP exemplifies the kind of platform that drives sustainable growth and regional integration across Africa.”

“Afreximbank congratulates ARISE IIP management on this landmark deal,” affirmed Afreximbank chairperson and president Professor Benedict Oramah. “With this capital increase, ARISE IIP will become an even stronger partner of Afreximbank in the drive to promote export manufacturing and industrialisation in Africa.”