Goldfinch Targets Asian Sports and Film Markets With New Partnerships

Goldfinch International has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangladesh Football Federation to evaluate the creation of a new professional soccer league. The agreement, finalized in October, marks the first formal step in a consortium’s plan to restructure the country’s sports sector using foreign capital and governance models.

The Bangladesh Super League would integrate existing teams with new regional franchises. The consortium, known as the Bangladesh Strategic Partnership, includes Goldfinch International, 1CS Holdings Limited, Fablemill, and Germany’s Akani Group. Nazir Alam, executive chairman of BSP and head of 1CS Holdings, stated that the MoU is an important first step toward building a wider ecosystem of investment and international collaboration. The group intends to approach British and European clubs, family offices, and the Bangladeshi diaspora for funding.

Beyond the league, the BSP is negotiating with the Bangladesh Olympic Association, the ICT Division, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. These talks aim to develop soccer facilities, athlete rehabilitation centers, and creative skills training programs. Alam noted that the partnership aims to connect the potential of Bangladesh’s Generation Z with European expertise and credible commercial opportunities.

In Indonesia, Goldfinch has entered a joint venture with Jakarta-based creative company Rangkai. This deal expands a partnership originally signed at the Cannes Film Festival in May, which also included the Jakarta Film Commission. Rangkai provides local distribution experience and government connections, while Goldfinch contributes its global sales network and production financing expertise. Redemptus Rangga Raditya, CEO of Rangkai, said the company has spent five years building ties with filmmakers and government agencies to prepare for this international expansion.

Goldfinch International, the emerging-markets division of the London-based entertainment financier, is replicating its Gulf strategy in these two Asian markets. Phil McKenzie, co-founder and COO of Goldfinch, said the company’s role is to bring capital and structure that turn local access into leagues, studios, and skilled jobs. He noted that the partners in both countries sit inside government and the creative community simultaneously.

The company is also promoting the Commonwealth Creative Industries Alliance, an events and research outfit launched this year with the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Businesswomen’s Network. The alliance now spans 56 nations. A Goldfinch team will travel to Antigua and Barbuda in November to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and unveil further development programs.

Supporting these initiatives is a production debt fund for emerging markets that launched in 2025. The fund is scheduled to begin deploying capital in early 2027. Goldfinch International is currently in talks with partners in several other Global South territories.