(Bloomberg) -- Egypt has named six international lenders, including Citigroup Inc. and HSBC Holdings Plc, to manage its first sale of sovereign Islamic bonds as one of the Middle East’s most indebted nations looks to diversify funding sources and ease the burden on its economy.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank PJSC, Credit Agricole SA, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC were also selected to help the government sell a sukuk of around $2 billion, according to people familiar with the decision. The issuance could take place in the second quarter of the year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media. 

Finance Ministry officials weren’t immediately available for comment, while spokespeople at Citigroup, Emirates NBD and Credit Agricole declined to comment. HSBC, FAB and ADIB didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment. 

Egypt first announced plans to sell sovereign Islamic bonds four years ago, but opted to move ahead instead with other international issuances to help cover financing needs. Last year, it raised $6.8 billion through Eurobond issuances, and is planning its first Japanese yen-denominated Samurai bond in the current fiscal year that ends in June. 

The North African nation, which will host the next global climate summit later this year, also sold the Middle East’s first sovereign green bonds in 2020 and is planning to tap this market again this year. 

Read also: Egypt Lays Out What Bond Investors Craving Yield Can Expect 

The current timing of the sukuk, however, could allow it to take advantage of borrowing costs that are expected to rise later this year due to accelerated U.S. Federal Reserve tightening of monetary policy. 

The issuance comes after Turkey last week sold $3 billion in five-year Islamic bonds in its biggest-ever overseas debt placement. While the bond saw strong demand, the government paid for it with the yield at 7.25% -- higher than that of most other sukuks.

Read also: Seven Charts Show Egypt’s Debt Dilemma Ahead of Fed Tapering

Moody’s Investors Service, in a report earlier this week, said it expected global sovereign Islamic bond issuance to drop as “government deficits continue to narrow because of higher oil prices, lower coronavirus-related expenditure and accelerating economic activity in core sukuk-issuing countries.”

 

©2022 Bloomberg L.P.