Miga has issued a US$5mn guarantee to Cesur Packaging of Turkey for its US$5.23mn equity investment in, future retained earnings in, and shareholder loan to Shirkete Goni Bafi ve Beste Bendiye Cesur. Cesur Packaging of Turkey owns 48% of the company, while investors of dual Turkish and Iranian nationality own the remaining shares.

 
The guarantee protects against the risk of war and civil disturbance, for a period up to 10 years. It represents one of the first guarantees issued under Miga’s new Small Investment Program, which streamlines and expedites the underwriting process for eligible small and medium-sized investors.

 
The investment involves the establishment of a fully integrated manufacturing facility for the production and export of large polypropylene containers. The bags, known as flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC), or big and jumbo bags, are used primarily for packaging food and chemical products. The new, vertically integrated and highly automated plant will produce up to 2mn bags per year, 80% of which will go to European markets. The facility will be constructed on a five-hectare site, strategically located in the Sofian Industrial Investment Area in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, within easy access to major highways and rail transport.

 
The project is expected to help diversify Iran’s economy, which is over-reliant on oil, while introducing state-of-the-art, lean manufacturing techniques that can be replicated for use in other industrial facilities.
Miga’s participation in the project supports several agency priorities, including support for south-south investments and smaller investors.