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"Smart" infrastructure travel project initiated in India.

Capivest, a Bahrain based Islamic investment bank successfully formed a joint venture between one of its subsidiaries - Kaizen Automation Pvt, Ltd., (a leading company in automation projects established by the bank in India) and the Central Railway in India through a public-private partnership. The launch of "Go Mumbai", a multi-purpose Smart Card for use by public transportation commuters was marked by an inaugural ceremony which took place in India.

The new Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems, implemented for the first time in India, were set up in and around Mumbai to read travel cards (also known as Smart Cards) used daily by thousands of local commuters on more than one mode of public transportation. Other major cities in India have already expressed serious interest in implementing AFC systems elsewhere, allowing the use of Smart Cards for their public transport commuters as well.

Commenting on the reasons why Capivest chose to form this public-private initiative in India, Mr. Nabil Hadi, CEO of Capivest and Chairman of Kaizen Automation Pvt, Ltd, said: "We at Capivest have a keen interest in projects that further develop the infrastructure of countries, but at the same time are environmentally friendly. There's no doubt that if we can ease commuters travel experience, there will be a higher interest in using public transportation, which will ultimately lead to fewer cars on the road and a cleaner environment."

AFC multi-application Smart Cards are already in use in countries such as, USA, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as in many parts of Europe. The reason is that AFC has many advantages, such as automating the ticket accounting and selling processes, and giving detailed data on system usage.

AFC also reduces the time commuters waste in long queues waiting to buy travel tickets, which simplifies and encourages commuters to use public transportation. Additionally, Smart Cards application for various uses such as toll collection and other daily consumer needs are planned in the pipeline.

Plans for this project, which was developed to improve India's infrastructure, began through a consortium of companies including Kaizen Engineering Systems Pvt, Ltd. A joint venture was formed by Capivest and Kaizen Engineering Systems Pvt, Ltd, to take the lead in this essential public-private initiative with the Railways and BEST buses in Mumbai.

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About Capivest

Capivest is an Islamic Investment bank based in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has a growing regional and international presence. It aims to help institutional and high net worth individuals in the Middle East grow their capital by providing them with a diverse range of innovative investment products and high-quality advisory services. The Capivest investment strategy is to continue building a portfolio that is well-diversified both by geography and sector.

To date, Capivest has successfully structured investments in private equity and real estate that embrace developed and emerging markets; and in other sectors, ranging from technology and healthcare to building materials and retailing. The bank has also launched a series of investment funds in collaboration with leading regional and international institutions.

At Capivest, we value partnerships. Our aim is to continue building a portfolio that is diversified for our valuable investors by fostering a culture of equitable alliances. Through our team of experienced professionals who work with the highest ethical standards and international management best practices, we are dedicated to maximizing our shareholders' value and our clients' wealth in accordance with the principles of Islamic Sharia.

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