SME Finance & Inclusion (Nigeria): Nigeria’s finance minister Taiwo Oyedele urged deeper collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to unlock affordable development finance and better support small and medium businesses, especially for young people and women, during the IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku. Infrastructure Funding (Bahrain): Bahrain signed two IsDB financing agreements worth about $180m for the King Faisal Highway upgrade and support for the Salman Industrial City expansion, aiming to boost industrial and logistics competitiveness. SME Capital Crunch (Africa): LEAF Africa warned that African government debt is choking private investment into startups and SMEs, citing higher SME lending rates (often above 35%) and slower venture funding after Ghana’s 2022 default. Banking Costs (Nigeria): A sector snapshot shows Nigerian lending rates still widely elevated (roughly 20%–46%), with MSME pricing around 27% at Zenith for certain loan bands—highlighting how financing remains tough for smaller firms. Women Entrepreneurship (Uzbekistan): Uzbekistan showcased progress and gaps at the Tashkent Investment Forum, noting women’s participation in the digital economy is rising but credit access remains low (credit to women cited at 14%). Trade & Labor Mobility (Gulf): A US-Iran interim peace deal is expected to drive the return of tens of thousands of Indian workers to the Gulf, with knock-on effects for Gulf construction and services demand. Local Business Impact (World Cup): In Vancouver, some small shops are cashing in on World Cup footfall, while others get squeezed by strict FIFA licensing rules—an example of how big events can unevenly reward SMEs.