Tag: IFC

IFC Announces New Initiatives to Accelerate Ukraine’s Reconstruction at Ukraine Recovery Conference

Stuart Mitchell

IFC has announced a series of new initiatives to support Ukraine’s private sector and accelerate reconstruction efforts. Unveiled at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the initiatives aim to address critical financing needs, enhance energy security, and foster innovation in key sectors, including energy, and technology. Ukraine’s private sector continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite the ongoing challenges of Russia’s invasion. As of May 2025, nearly two-thirds of firms were operating at full or near-full capacity. However, businesses continue to face security risks, labor shortages, and rising input costs. Achieving a full…

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IFC Launches $2 Billion Bond to Support Private Sector Investment and Jobs in Emerging Markets

Stuart Mitchell

To support private businesses and help drive job creation in emerging markets, IFC issued a new 2 billion US dollar global benchmark bond. The new five-year benchmark was met with strong investor demand with final orders over $3.8 billion. The transaction priced at 7 basis points over US Treasuries, the tightest spread for an IFC five-year US dollar benchmark. It also priced at 41 basis points above the SOFR mid-swap rate, one of the most competitively priced five-year bonds from a public sector issuer so far this calendar year. “The…

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IFC Invests in Immersive Content Platform VUZ to Support Jobs and Incomes

Stuart Mitchell

In a move to strengthen jobs and incomes for young creatives, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is investing $5 million into VUZ as part of its $12M Pre-Series C. Launched by a Jordanian founder, VUZ is an immersive content platform that creates, distributes and monetizes premium creator-driven, entertainment, sports, and educational content in augmented reality, and virtual reality. The company has operations throughout the Middle East, parts of Africa, and Asia and currently reaches over 1.2 million active users globally each month, with…

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IFC and Partners Release New Harmonized Circular Economy Finance Guidelines

Stuart Mitchell

International Finance Corporation (IFC) released new Harmonized Circular Economy Finance Guidelines at the World Circular Economy Forum in Brazil. The guidelines are designed to assist investors, financial institutions, and private companies in identifying and quantifying opportunities to channel financing towards projects that support a circular economy. By providing clear guidance on eligible activities and qualifying transactions, the Guidelines aim to promote market convergence and are intended to be applicable globally. Most businesses underestimate the real potential of circular economy activities to boost profitability and secure financing. At the same time,…

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IFC and Banco Industrial expand financing for SMEs, with a focus on women-led businesses and the Legal Amazon

Stuart Mitchell

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Banco Industrial do Brasil S.A. (BIB) have announced a $105 million financing package to expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) throughout Brazil. The investment will support women-led businesses in particular and help expand financial services in the Brazilian Legal Amazon region, contributing to promoting the country’s inclusive and sustainable economic growth. At minimum of 30% of the resources will be allocated to finance women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 10% will support SMEs operating in the…

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