Al Khalij commercial Bank (Al Khaliji) Q.S.C and its subsidiary, Al Khaliji France S.A have announced their participation in a US$1.1bn, seven-year financing deal for Abu Dhabis Emirates Steel Industries (ESI).

Egyptian group, El Sewedy Cables, has reportedly revealed it is due to set up a US$50m cable manufacturing plant in Libya by the end of 2011.

The regions oil producers are set to pump nearly US$22 billion into new aluminium projects and expansion of existing smelters in the next five years as part of an ongoing industrial drive to move away from reliance on oil exports, reports Emirates 24/7.

Emirates Steel, the largest integrated steel producer in the UAE and a strategic steel player in the Middle East steel industry, recently signed a US$1.1bn, seven-year project financing agreement with a consortium of seven conventional banks and two Islamic finance institutions.