Swedfund accelerated sustainable investments for climate action and poverty reduction to a total value of SEK 2.7 billion while also delivering a positive financial result. Ukraine was prioritised, resulting in 25 new projects within critical infrastructure. On Monday, Swedfund published its Integrated Annual and Sustainability Report for 2024 - Investing for Employment, Environment, Empowerment.
Swedfund has committed EUR 15 million to the AfricInvest Small Cap Fund, a private equity initiative focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. This indirect investment can enable more growth-oriented investments to unlock the full potential of SMEs in Africa.
Swedfund, alongside BII and Norfund, have announced a joint $85 million investment in AgDevCo, the specialist investor transforming agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa. The investment comprises up to $20 million from Swedfund, $50 million from BII and $15 million from Norfund, aimed at supporting high-impact agribusinesses to increase productivity and improve food security in rural areas.
Swedfund has announced a second investment of USD 7.5 million in Kenya's Victoria Commercial Bank (VCB) PLC. The loan will further strengthen the bank's ability to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which play a vital role in Kenya's economy by creating jobs and driving growth.
Swedfund supports increased local processing capacity in African through a working capital loan of up to USD 15 million to Robust International (Robust). The loan will enable Robust to source local commodities to new processing facilities and thereby spur job creation, economic growth and trade.
Swedfund, Sweden's development finance institution, is committing €40 million to the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund EAAIF. The investment will address infrastructure gaps in Africa, the Levant and South and Southeast Asia by supporting projects that elevate climate action and support inclusive and sustainable development.
Swedfund and the Danish Investment Fund for Developing Countries, IFU, have partnered with Sturdee Energy to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy in Southern Africa, with a primary focus on South Africa, a country heavily reliant on coal-fired electricity.
