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Inside Equity Fund invested in Alpha Polyplast, a Zambian company that specialises in recycling plastic waste, to increase its capacity to recycle plastic waste throughout the country. Photo: Alpha Polyplast

Catalysing sustainable growth through SMEs in Southeast Africa

Swedfund, Sweden’s development finance institution, has invested USD 10 million in Inside Equity Fund II, aiming to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with impactful and innovative solutions in Zambia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

Photo: Sam Makoji / Getty Images

Investment for enhanced access to finance for MSMEs in Nigeria

Swedfund invests USD 30 million in Access Bank Nigeria Plc to reach underserved MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) at scale. By providing long-term capital and capacity building to unbanked and under-banked companies in Nigeria, the investment is expected to support sustainable private sector development and inclusive growth.

Xurya’s solar systems in Indonesia, South Jakarta. Photo: Xurya Daya Indonesia

Swedfund makes first renewable energy investment in Indonesia

Swedfund, Sweden's development finance institution, has announced an equity investment of USD 10 million in Xurya, an innovative Indonesian solar rooftop company. Xurya enables commercial and industrial companies across the country to adopt solar power with no upfront costs, displacing fossil fuel-based power generation.

Founded by a female entrepreneur, Kinshasa-based DPXL is known for urban signs & billboards. The company has received XSML funding for new equipment and is now looking to expand further. Photo: Sighted Design, DRC

Investing for continued support to SMEs in Central and East Africa

Swedfund invests 15 MUSD in African Rivers Fund IV, an impact-oriented credit fund empowering sustainable growing companies in Central and East Africa to increase access to long term small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing and support for sustainable private sector growth.

Swedfund invests in Teyliom Finance to promote financial inclusion in West Africa

Swedfund invests in Teyliom Finance to promote financial inclusion in West Africa

Swedfund invests USD 5 million in a loan to Teyliom Finance, a subsidiary of Teyliom Group, a leading pan-African group active in five industries, across twelve countries. The investment is directed towards Bridge Bank Microfinance to strengthen financing for micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) and is expected to enhance financial empowerment of women in Côte D'Ivoire.

Abidjan, the Ivory Coast.

Investment to strengthen small and medium sized companies in Francophone Africa

On December 31, 2023, Swedfund, Sweden’s Development Finance Institution, invested 15 MEUR Joliba Capital Fund I. The investment will enable growth of small and medium sized companies which are key for private sector growth and job creation in the least developed regions of Francophone Africa.

Investment to accelerate the energy transition in Southeast Asia

Investment to accelerate the energy transition in Southeast Asia

On December 22, 2023, Swedfund invested 12 MUSD in Southeast Asia Clean Energy Fund II (SEACEF II). This investment will contribute to providing scale-up capital to early-stage companies focused on advancing the low-carbon transition in some of Southeast Asia's most fossil fuel-intensive economies.

Micro, small and medium-sized companies create 4 out of 5 jobs in emerging economies. Photo from Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Photographer Michael Tsegaye.

Swedish investment to support financial inclusion

Micro, small and medium-sized companies (MSME’s) create 4 out of 5 jobs in emerging economies. Yet, in developing countries, around 200 million MSME’s lack access to finance, especially companies owned by women. Today Swedfund announces an investment up to 15 MUSD in Accion Digital Transformation Fund, focusing on the digital transformation of financial institutions in developing countries.

A female vendor (Micro entrepreneur) in wholesale flower market in Chennai, India.

Swedfund supports Indian micro-entrepreneurs

The limited access to credit for micro-entrepreneurs has been further worsened by the pandemic. At the same time, they are the second biggest employers in India and contribute to about 30% of the country’s GDP. Against that background the Swedish development finance institution, Swedfund, invests 20 MUSD in a long-term, senior unsecured loan to Five-Star Business Finance Limited (Five-Star).

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