The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) has committed USD 8 million to the Central American Small Enterprise Investment Fund (CASEIF) IV by Lafise Investment Management (LIM).
The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) has committed USD 8 million to the Central American Small Enterprise Investment Fund (CASEIF) IV by Lafise Investment Management (LIM).
Following previous investments by SIFEM in CASEIF II and III, the fourth Fund is aiming to provide growth capital to cash-generating, expansion-stage SMEs in Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala), the Dominican Republic and Colombia. The Fund targets USD 75 million and is expected to play a role in boosting the economic recovery in the region. Besides SIFEM, the World Bank’s IFC and the Development Finance Institutions Norfund (Norway) and FMO (Netherlands) feature as co-investors in CASEIF IV.
The investment will contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 (decent work), 9 (industry, innovation, infrastructure) and 17 (partnerships), but will also empower women and support gender equality (SDG 5).
As Jörg Frieden steps down after eight years as Chair of SIFEM’s Board of Directors, and Mirjam Staub-Bisang takes up the role, the outgoing and incoming chairs sit down together to reflect on impact, conviction, and the business of putting capital to good use.
As Jörg Frieden steps down after eight years as Chair of SIFEM’s Board of Directors, and Mirjam Staub-Bisang takes up the role, the outgoing and incoming chairs sit down together to reflect on impact, conviction, and the business of putting capital to good use.
