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Axel Hallgren, Press and Communications Manager
axel.hallgren@swedfund.se+46 70 234 49 46Press
March 29, 2022
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), an Indian Non-Banking Financial Company that provides secured business loans to micro-entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals in fast-growing rural and semi-urban areas primarily in Southern India.
Press
January 27, 2022
Swedfund invests in African tech entrepreneurs and promotes increased digitalisation
Investment in digitalisation in developing countries is central to reducing both financial and digital gaps. Hence, the Swedish development finance institution, Swedfund, invests in a fund focusing on developing young companies and supporting entrepreneurs working with digital business models spun out of local needs in Africa. The investment of USD 10 million is made in TIDE Africa Fund II, a venture capital fund dedicated to financing the development of scalable and innovative business models.
Press
December 21, 2021
Swedfund increases support for healthcare in India
The infrastructure for healthcare in India is deficient and came under great pressure at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Against that background, Swedish Development Finance Institution Swedfund today reaffirms its support to HealthQuad II, an innovation fund that supports companies with digital business models in the health sector,by making an additional USD 5M commitment. The purpose is to create long-term positive effects that reach India's large and growing population.
Press
December 15, 2021
Swedfund supports health entrepreneurs in Sub-Saharan Africa
Healthcare infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa is insufficient to meet the healthcare needs of its 1.1 billion population. Swedfund, the Swedish Development Finance Institution, now commits EUR 5M in debt funding to Medical Credit Fund II (“MCF II”), a fund that provides financing to small and medium-sized enterprises within the health sector(“SMEs”) in Sub-Saharan Africa. This investment is well aligned with Swedfund’s goal to support sustainable businesses that improve access and quality of health care for under-served patients.
Press
July 15, 2021
Swedish capital endorses women’s economic empowerment in rural India
Swedfund, the Swedish development finance Institution, invests up to 25 MUSD in the form of a Senior Unsecured Loan to one of India’s leading microfinance institutions - CreditAccess Grameen Ltd. Through this investment, Swedfund emphasizes the support to financial inclusion in rural India when contributing to women’s economic empowerment.
Press
June 16, 2021
Swedfund commits MEUR 15 to finance renewable energy in Africa
Swedish development finance institution Swedfund commits MEUR 15 to Africa Renewable Energy Fund II (“AREF II”) to finance the build-out of renewable energy projects in a sustainable way. AREF II will invest in Sub-Saharan Africa and has a strong focus on least developed countries and an investment strategy that includes Angola, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi and Uganda. The technology focus will mainly be small- and medium-sized run-of-river hydropower projects complemented with solar, wind and battery storage solutions.
Press
May 26, 2021
Swedish investment supports energy transition in Southeast Asia
Development finance institution Swedfund commits 15 MUSD to SUSI Asia Energy Transition Fund, a fund that geographically reaches some of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia, investing in energy transition projects. By supporting the first close of the Fund, Swedfund is expected to play an important role in the mobilization of additional capital. The investment is in line with Swedfund’s Energy & Climate sector goals.
Press
May 11, 2021
FMO, CDC Group, Swedfund and IFC participate in first close of Nepal-focussed Dolma Impact Fund II
Kathmandu, Nepal, May 11, 2021—Dolma Fund Management announces the first close of Dolma Impact Fund II (Dolma II) – a private equity fund investing primarily in renewable energy, healthcare and technology in Nepal. Investors in this $40m first close are FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank; CDC Group, the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor; Swedfund, the Swedish development finance institution; and the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The final close is targeted at $75m.
Press
February 11, 2021
Swedish funding to Co-operative Bank of Kenya enables growth in the private sector
Swedfund provides a USD 15 million long-term subordinated loan to Co-operative Bank of Kenya (“Co-op Bank”) to support the Bank’s lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and green finance projects. By supporting Co-op Bank, Swedfund will contribute to job creation and private sector development. Almost half of all SMEs in Kenya are women-owned businesses which contribute to around 20% of Kenya’s GDP.
Press
January 19, 2021
Swedish capital infusion boosts financial inclusion for women in India
Swedfund invests 10 MUSD through a senior unsecured loan to one of India’s leading providers of microfinance services - Satin Creditcare Network Ltd – with services aimed exclusively at women. By providing funding to Satin, Swedfund can support continued availability of funding to self-employed women predominantly within agriculture in the low-income segment of the population. Satin is one of India’s largest microfinance institutions with a particularly strong presence in rural areas, and is active in 23 states and union territories across India.
Press
December 11, 2020
Additional commitment to strengthen the support to African companies
The Swedish Development Finance Institution Swedfund is making an additional investment in African Development Partners (“ADP”) III to further support the development of the private sector in Africa. The fund will contribute to significant social development by creating new jobs and tax revenues through its investments across the African continent. The fund exercises active ownership with a clear focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and impact creation in areas such as women’s economic empowerment, growth of decent jobs, access to essential products and services and local economic development.
Press
October 26, 2020
Swedfund supports women’s health and self-care in East Africa
Swedfund, the Swedish Development finance institution, is pleased to announce its investment in Kasha Global, a Femtech [1]e-commerce platform with subsidiaries in Rwanda and Kenya. Kasha’s platform enables access, education and confidential distribution of women’s contraceptives, menstrual and health products, primarily to underserved women. Kasha’s innovative multichannel platform supports both offline and online e-commerce, providing customers with the ability to purchase products digitally using any type of mobile phone, with or without internet access.
