BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries

BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries welcomed H.E. Chandana Weerasena, #Ambassador of the Republic of Sri Lanka to Belgium, the European Union, and Luxembourg to the offices of BIO to reinforce the bilateral ties between our countries, and to present the BIO investments is Sri Lanka.   H.E. the ambassador presented the positive evolution of the economy of Sri Lanka, welcoming the support on BIO for the #sustainablegrowth of the country and presenting some concrete investment opportunities. BIO presented its investment in SDB bank, a Licensed Specialised Bank that provides financial facilities to the Sanasa Movement, an island-wide network of savings and credit cooperatives. SDB has been listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange since 2012 and has become a leading MSME bank in Sri Lanka over the last years. BIO recently signed a significant #technicalassistance agreement with SDB Bank to enhance the bank's capacity to empower traditionally unbankable farmers. This collaboration will integrate the cooperative sector, boosting Sri Lanka's agricultural sector and financial resilience. The initiative supports rural and low-income households by facilitating access to financial services. #SriLanka #Agriculture #FinancialInclusion #SDBBank #MSME

BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries is happy to be part of a syndicate of nine impact investors who channel a USD 295 M loan into Access Bank Plc Nigeria. The deal was signed in The Hague on July 11th, 2024. Access Bank is Nigeria’s leading bank, committed to providing support to SMEs through funding, capacity building and networking opportunities.   The funding will support underserved Small, and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) including those led by women and youth, providing access to working capital and supporting resilience as Nigeria faces its most severe economic crisis in a generation. This loan facility was arranged by FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank. In addition to FMO, the syndication partners include BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries BIO, British International Investment , impact investor BlueOrchard Finance Ltd , Canada’s Development Finance Institution FinDev Canada , the Finnish development financier and impact investor Finnfund, the Norwegian development finance institution Norfund, social impact investor Oikocredit , and the Swedish development finance institution Swedfund International .   There are nearly 40 million MSMEs in Nigeria, accounting for 86 percent of employment and contributing 50 percent to the GDP (Market Bite Nigeria 2022 by World Bank). Despite their importance to the Nigerian economy, many small businesses face challenges with accessing finance due to onerous collateral requirements, high interest rates and lack of formal credit history. The commitment from the nice syndication partners will help to expand Access Bank's capital reserves and provide much needed working capital and financing to Nigerian businesses across various sectors including agriculture. This will help to stimulate business growth, create more jobs and deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria, which is the most populous country in Africa. #developmentfinance #impactinvesting #MSME #Nigeria #financialinclusion Naweza Muhaya

Happy to see that the BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries partnership with Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) has been noted by the The Daily Star. BIO provided a USD 15 million loan to support their MSME & sustainable finance initiatives and to foster positive economic & environmental impact in Bangladesh. #banking #development #sustainability #Bangladesh #MSMEs #financialinclusion #genderequality Frédéric Vereecke Syed Mahbubur Rahman Federico Carraro #DFIs #impactfinance Learn more: BIO: https://www.bio-invest.be MTB: https://lnkd.in/ezZi3jx6 https://lnkd.in/gFJvqCCB

We're #hiring a new Junior Development & Sustainability Internship in Brussels, Brussels Region. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Internship / Student Communication in Brussels, Brussels Region. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Internship / Student Translation in Brussels, Brussels Region. Apply today or share this post with your network.

To boost access to affordable remittances and support livelihoods and business activity in countries across Africa, BIO has invested in TerraPay, an Africa-focused digital payments provider. This investment happened in syndication with the Finnfund Global Impact Fund I and ILX, led by IFC - International Finance Corporation. TerraPay's innovative platform connects money transfer companies, such as Western Union with mobile money providers such as #MPesa and banks, mainly in developing countries. This network enables instant transfers, typically around USD 300, directly to recipients' mobile wallets or bank accounts. By eliminating intermediaries, TerraPay contributes significantly to reducing transaction costs. This reduction makes a big difference, these transfers (worth a total of more than USD 600 billion a year) are a lifeline for many families in low- and middle-income countries. TerraPay's services contribute to financial inclusion by making these essential resources more accessible and affordable. https://lnkd.in/dAGirRYN https://lnkd.in/dXDfKhDT

Congratulations with this fine example of candi solar's mission to provide reliable and affordable solar energy to SMEs in #India and #South Africa. Their solar plants significantly reduce carbon emissions, contributing to a greener future. BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries is proud to be invested in Candi Solar and is particularly impressed by its commitment to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices. Looking forward to seeing Candi Solar continue to grow and make a positive impact! #CandiSolar #SustainableEnergy #SocialImpact #ClimateAction

BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, seeks a seasoned and strategic CFO to join its team. Qualifications: Master's degree in Financial Management (or equivalent) with 15 years of experience. Proven track record in financial leadership, preferably in an international environment. Demonstrated experience in investment transactions (debt & equity). Strong analytical skills and knowledge of data analysis & forecasting. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in Dutch, French, and English. Passion for development and a commitment to BIO's core values. To apply: Visit https://lnkd.in/e3b84b_t BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, is op zoek naar een ervaren en strategische CFO ter versterking van het team. Profiel: Masterdiploma in Financial Management (of equivalent) met 15 jaar ervaring. Aantoonbare ervaring in financieel leiderschap, bij voorkeur in een internationale omgeving. Aantoonbare ervaring in investeringstransacties (leningen & eigen vermogen). Sterke analytische vaardigheden en kennis van data-analyse & prognose. Uitstekende communicatie- en interpersoonlijke vaardigheden in het Nederlands, Frans en Engels. Passie voor ontwikkeling en een toewijding aan de kernwaarden van BIO. Solliciteren: Bezoek https://lnkd.in/e3b84b_t BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, recherche un(e) Directeur(trice) Financier(ère) expérimenté(e) et stratège pour rejoindre son équipe. Profil: Titulaire d'un Master en gestion financière (ou équivalent) avec plus de 15 ans d'expérience. Expérience solide de leadership financier, idéalement dans un environnement international. Expérience avérée dans les transactions d'investissement (dette et fonds propres). Excellentes compétences analytiques et connaissance de l'analyse et de la prévision des données. Excellentes compétences en communication et en relations interpersonnelles en français, anglais et néerlandais. Passion pour le développement et engagement envers les valeurs fondamentales de BIO. Pour postuler: Visitez https://lnkd.in/e3b84b_t #CFO #developmentfinance #impactinvesting #vacancy

Calling all Social Media Savvy Students! BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, is searching for a bright and motivated intern to join their communications team! Calling all future communications rockstars! This is your chance to gain valuable experience in crafting a social media strategy for a dynamic organisation making a real impact on the world. Here's what you'll get up to: Dive deep into the world of social media for BIO, analysing current networks and identifying new opportunities. Become a social media whiz, strategising how to engage with key influencers and build a strong online presence. Craft a killer social media strategy that will have everyone talking about BIO's amasing work. Dive into all things communications and events, lending a helping hand wherever needed. What we're looking for: You're a whiz with words and have a knack for organisation. A keen eye for detail ensures nothing slips through the cracks. You're eager to learn and soak up everything the communications world has to offer. The offer? Gain invaluable experience in a fast-paced and impactful environment. Work in the heart of Brussels, with easy access by public transport. Ready to launch your communications career? Apply now! https://lnkd.in/ezTwesFv #BIO #CommunicationsIntern #SocialMedia #Sustainability #Development #Brussels #Impact #StudentLife #GainExperience P.S. Don't forget to tag your friends who might be interested!