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HQ office : Bern, Switzerland
ADDRESS : Helvetiastrasse 17,
3000 Bern 6
WEBSITE : http://www.sifem.ch

SIFEMSwitzerland

Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets

SIFEM – the Swiss Development Finance Institution – was established in its current form in 2011 – but had existed as an institution since 2005, the year it joined EDFI. It took over the investment portfolio of SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs), which had been built up since the late 1990s. SIFEM is wholly owned by the Swiss government. The shareholder rights are exercised by the Federal Council, and SECO remains in close contact with the SIFEM Governing Board and Obviam, the fund management company. The task of SIFEM is to promote long-term, sustainable and broad-based growth in developing and emerging countries.

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Region

Sector

Key Figures

Key numbers (end of 2022)

Investments

€89 million

in new annual commitments to 7 projects

€859 million

in total portfolio of 98 projects

€696 million

in investment funds

Financial instruments

73%

equity and quasi equity

27%

loans

Investment focus

SIFEM focuses exclusively on developing and emerging countries, which include the countries whose GNI per capita is below a set threshold (USD 7,065 per capita in 2021) as defined by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The partner countries of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) are given a priority status. At least 60% of SIFEM’s investment volume in any year must be allocated to these priority countries. In cases of regional or global funds, the geographical criteria is fulfilled if at least 50% of the fund or financial institution investment is made in the priority countries.
SIFEM invests in the sectors of manufacturing industry, transport, storage, communication, wholesale and retail trade, production of renewable energies, health and education.

Staff

30

employees

Ministry in charge

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Education and Research