Abu Dhabi Fund suspends debt repayment for countries, firms

iStock [For illustration]

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has announced debt relief measures for low-income nations and individual businesses.

It will suspend loan installment and interest repayments upon requests from eligible countries and companies.

The initiative, which covers payments for the whole of 2020, is aimed at supporting those reeling under the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also reflects the UAE Government's support for the World Bank's G20 plan to ease the debt burden of developing countries.

The ADFD has been providing concessionary loans to national companies as well as to the governments of developing nations in crucial sectors such as education, health, energy, housing, agriculture and transport.

"Afterall, relieving the financial burden on the developing economies as well as that of our own country is our moral obligation," said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD.

"We are committed to taking any further action and providing support that may be required to ensure a swift recovery of the beneficiary countries and our national companies," he added.

More from Business

  • Disney settles suit over women's pay for $43 million

    Walt Disney has agreed to pay $43.3 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that its female employees in California earned $150 million less than their male counterparts over an eight-year period, the plaintiffs' lawyers said in a statement on Monday.

  • Etihad Airways adds ten new destinations for 2025

    UAE carrier Etihad Airways is set to introduce ten new destinations starting in 2025, expanding its global presence as it brings tens of thousands of new visitors to the capital.

  • Trump pledges new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China

    US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday pledged a 25 per cent tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada from his first day in office, and an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods from China, citing illegal immigration and the trade of illicit drugs.

  • UAE and Bahrain finalise ICV programmes procedures

    The UAE and Bahrain have finalised the procedures required to implement an MoU, signed last January, that fosters cooperation between the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme and Bahrain’s Value Programme in Industry, known as Takamul.