The partnership between SILQFi and Helix aims to create the region's first shariah-compliant tokenized invoice financing scheme, opening new horizons for small businesses.
SME Financing in the Gulf
The global financing gap for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) stands at $5 trillion, with the GCC alone accounting for over $250 billion. Despite representing nearly 90% of all businesses, SMEs receive only 9% of traditional bank lending.
The Tokenization Initiative and Financial Inclusion
This collaboration bridges decentralized finance (DeFi) and embedded finance, offering an alternative that unlocks new capital sources through tokenized assets. This approach links on-chain and off-chain markets, creating a new model to close the SMEs financing gap at scale.
Prospects and Implications of the Collaboration
SILQFi is strengthening its position in DeFi following a successful pilot in the Asian market, where stablecoin capital financed SMEs through shariah-compliant invoice-backed structures. Backed by a recent $110 million raise from investors, SILQFi is charting the next frontier where blockchain, AI, and Islamic finance converge.
The SILQFi and Helix collaboration signifies a bold move towards enhancing financial inclusion in the region, connecting capital demand with access through modern financial models.
