Amman, Jordan, December 1, 2020—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the appointment of Abdullah Jefri as its country manager for the Levant region. In his new role, Jefri will lead IFC's efforts to support private sector growth and increase business competitiveness in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Jefri, a Saudi Arabian national, brings to his new role over 12 years of global investment experience with IFC structuring and leading transformational projects in the manufacturing, agribusiness, and services sectors. Based in Amman since 2018, he has also played a key role helping grow IFC's industry and regional staff in the Levant.
IFC's focus areas in the Levant include boosting access to finance for smaller businesses and women entrepreneurs, supporting entrepreneurship and the digital economy, and helping to narrow the infrastructure gap.
IFC has also supported the region through the COVID-19 pandemic and partnered on relief efforts in Lebanon with the rest of the World Bank Group following the devastating Beirut blast in August.
Beatrice Maser, IFC's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said, "In the past five years, IFC has invested $2.5 billion in the Levant and provided advisory solutions to clients and partners across sectors. We are building on these strong foundations and Abdullah's leadership will help us play an even greater role in catalyzing private investment in the Levant."
Abdullah Jefri said of his new role: "The private sector has a significant role to play in the Levant economies, especially combatting the impact of COVID-19. Our goal is to work with the public and private sectors in the region to attract private investment and create markets, including in fragile situations, and to provide more employment opportunities, especially for young people and women."
Prior to joining IFC, Abdullah was a manager in the corporate finance and investment banking unit at Samba Financial Group.
About IFC
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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