EIIB-Rasmala, a leading specialist asset management and financing group focused on the growth markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), is set to launch a series of new business and strategic initiatives for next year.

Following on from the launch of a series of new and innovative funds this year, including the Rasmala Leasing Fund and Rasmala Trade Finance Fund, EIIB-Rasmala plans to further expand its leasing and real estate funds management businesses next year.

The group is currently finalising the launch of two new leasing fund strategies and will also expand its UAE real estate business, said a statement.

The launch of these new funds, driven by growing investor demand for more innovative investment management solutions, will offer an even broader investment choice to both existing and new clients, it said.

The group expects to raise about $1 billion for its growing leasing and alternatives business and approximately $250 million to invest in a broad mix of real estate transactions in the UK.

The group is looking to take advantage of the increasingly positive industry and market dynamics across the broader Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.

In Egypt, EIIB-Rasmala is seeking to increase its shareholding in its subsidiary, Rasmala Egypt Asset Management. As the economic and political situation in Egypt stabilises, the Egyptian asset management market has become an attractive sector that is primed for further growth, as well as the further attention of international investors, said the statement.

In Saudi Arabia, the recent announcement by the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to open up the equity market to greater foreign ownership is expected to result in significantly increased investment flows into one of the region’s largest, most mature and liquid share markets.

Zak Hydari, chief executive at EIIB-Rasmala, said: "We have successfully completed the transformation of EIIB-Rasmala and consolidated our position as one of the most innovative regional asset managers. In 2014 we saw a higher level of investor demand for broader, more alternative investment products, as well as greater overseas investor interest in our key markets.

“Given this demand, we are now accelerating the expansion of core strategies and product offerings and we are actively investing in order to stay at the forefront of the regional industry.”  - TradeArabia News Service