IL&FS opens its first Middle East branch in Dubai

Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) has opened its third international office and its first in the region at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in Dubai.

IL&FS, which has a mandate to sponsor, develop and commercialise infrastructure projects and provide value-added financial services, will seek to provide a wide range of investment banking services to cater to the needs of Indian and international customers in Middle East and African markets.

Speaking on the occasion, IL&FS Group Chairman Ravi Parthasarathy emphasised on the professional capabilities of the IL&FS Group and its contribution to the development of infrastructure in India.

He also explained the role IL&FS is playing in promoting a large segment of financial services activities that are unique and path breaking.

The prime focus of the Dubai operations would be channelising capital from the Middle East for opportunities in India, setting up complimentary alliances between groups across a wider array of businesses and leveraging on the infrastructure opportunities in the Middle East and India.

They would also work closely to establish a network of select players in the region and provide services in a wide range of financial products like syndication of foreign currency/external commercial borrowings, export credit agency (ECA)-backed financing, offshore financing including Mezzanine structures and shariah-based financial products.

In addition, IL&FS will offer private equity syndication with private equity funds, hedge funds and foreign institutional investors, merger and acquisition services and project and infrastructure advisory services.

On the occasion, DIFC Governor Ahmad Humaid Al Tayer said, "Having international companies, like the IL&FS Group, setting up their operations at DIFC is testament to the importance of the Centre as a financial and business hub. IL&FS will use DIFC as a platform to access opportunities in infrastructure and financial services across the region."

IL&FS has developed an array of projects in public-private partnership formats across sectors like transportation, power, maritime, water projects, urban infrastructure, environment, education and community development.

Its aggregate investment involved in current initiatives across these sectors is in the region of $ 40 billion.