Evaluatierapport (PDF, 6.47 MB) - Buitenlandse Zaken - Belgium

FINEXPO EVALUATION
concerning price studies related to FINEXPO transactions. In particular cases, FINEXPO
contracts the BTC to conduct field appraisals, reviews, or ex-post evaluations of FINEXPO
transactions.
The BTC also manages scholarships and traineeships granted by the Directorate-general
for Development Cooperation (1,000 per year), the General Information Cycle of Belgian
development cooperation (900 participants per year), and one awareness campaign
aimed at young people: “Annoncer la couleur”. The BTC is also charged with the
implementation of Trade for Development Centre programme for the promotion of fair
trade in Belgium and since 2006, of the Voluntary Service for Development Cooperation
programme (VSDC).
Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries - BIO
BIO was incorporated by the law of 3 November 2001, on the initiative of the Minister for
Development Cooperation. BIO is a private company whose capital is equally shared
between the Belgian State (DGDC) and SBI/BMI (Société Belge d’Investissement
International S.A. – Belgian Corporation for International Investments). BIO’s early
stage capital amounts to € 5.000.000. Additional investments are funded with additional
equity granted by the Ministry for Development Cooperation in the form of profit shares
with voting rights.
BIO’s mission is to promote the creation of a strong private sector in developing and/or
emerging countries, to enable them to gain access to sustainable development and
lasting social prosperity, ultimately reducing poverty. BIO invests directly in private
sector projects and thus makes a structural contribution to the socio-economic growth of
these host countries.
Initially, BIO financed regional or local intermediary structures (banks, investment funds,
etc.) to support SMEs and microfinance institutions. These indirect investments allowed
BIO to reduce its risks and to benefit from the experience of more mature institutions. It
then broadened its mission with the creation of the SME Fund, a tool that aims at directly
financing local SMEs.
BIO invests by means of equity, quasi-equity, and medium and long-term loans. It also
grants subsidies for feasibility studies and technical assistance programmes, and it
provides for guarantees. BIO's interventions are built around three cornerstones:
Intermediary financial structures: BIO can support microfinance institutions,
commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, SME and microfinance
investment funds for amounts up to a maximum of 5% of BIO’s means per
project. These operations can be executed in Euros, Dollars, or local
currencies.
Enterprises: BIO can invest directly in local SMEs and larger corporations with
a maximum amount of € 1.000.000 and € 5.000.000 per project respectively,
in Euros, Dollars, or local currencies.
Capacity Building Fund: This Fund provides grants to co-finance feasibility
studies, up to a maximum of 50% of their total cost. The maximum grant
available is € 100.000 and the subsidies are non-refundable. BIO can also
provide subsidies for technical assistance programmes (training, technology
transfer, etc.) upon request from its investee companies, to help them achieve
their objectives.
Belgian Survival Fund - BSF
The Belgian Survival Fund is a Belgian Parliament initiative established under the law of 9
February 1999. It follows the same lines as the Belgian Survival Fund for the Third World
established in the same manner in 1983.
see
Final report – Appendix 7 – page 137