Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets

The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) is Switzerland's development finance institution. It was founded in 2011 as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) and is wholly owned by the Swiss Confederation. Originally developed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), SIFEM is an integral part of Switzerland's international cooperation strategy and is assigned to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. SIFEM provides long-term financing to private companies in developing and emerging countries and helps mobilize additional capital from the private sector. It channels financing primarily through local financial intermediaries to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fast-growing companies, using a range of financial instruments including equity and debt. Its overarching goal is to reduce poverty and promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient economies. Investments are closely aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, with a focus on sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and financial services. SIFEM's portfolio is concentrated in Africa (35%), Asia (33%), Latin America (18%) and Eastern Europe. By the end of 2023, SIFEM had entered into total commitments of USD 1,438 million, of which USD 454 million was in the active portfolio. The organization's financial independence is ensured by income from its investment portfolio. SIFEM is governed by a seven-member board of directors elected by the Federal Council, which sets the investment strategy and makes investment decisions. The board is responsible for implementing strategic goals and reporting to parliamentary oversight bodies. On 14 June 2024, the Swiss Parliament adopted the Federal Act on the SIFEM Development Finance Institution (SIFEM Act), which consolidated existing ordinances into a formal legal basis and entered into force on 1 January 2025. SIFEM AG is registered in Bern, Switzerland, under UID CHE-112.401.487.

The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) was founded in 2011 as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) and is wholly owned by the Swiss Confederation. It was originally developed by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and is assigned to the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. SIFEM was created to serve as Switzerland's development finance institution, providing long-term financing to private companies in developing and emerging countries through local financial intermediaries. From its inception, SIFEM's mandate has been to contribute to poverty reduction and to promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient economies. It operates as an integral part of Switzerland's international cooperation strategy, one of its three instruments. The institution manages and grows a portfolio invested through financial intermediaries in profit-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises as well as fast-growing companies, using financial instruments including equity and debt. Its financial independence is ensured by income from the investment portfolio. Over the years, SIFEM has built a portfolio concentrated in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. By the end of 2023, it had entered into total commitments of USD 1,438 million, with an active portfolio of USD 454 million. Its investments are closely aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, focusing on sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, renewable energy and financial services. On 14 June 2024, the Swiss Parliament adopted the Federal Act on the SIFEM Development Finance Institution (SIFEM Act), which consolidated existing ordinances into a formal legal basis. The act entered into force on 1 January 2025. SIFEM AG is registered in Bern, Switzerland, under UID CHE-112.401.487. The board of directors, elected by the Federal Council, is responsible for implementing strategic goals and reporting to parliamentary oversight bodies. SECO, together with the Federal Finance Administration (EFV), performs supervisory and control functions on behalf of the Confederation.

• 2023

  By end of 2023, SIFEM had entered into total commitments of USD 1,438 million, with an active portfolio of USD 454 million.

• 2011

  SIFEM founded as a stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft), wholly owned by the Swiss Confederation, developed by SECO.

• Swiss Parliament adopts the Federal Act on the SIFEM Development Finance Institution (SIFEM Act).

• SIFEM Act enters into force, consolidating existing ordinances into a formal legal basis.

• SIFEM hosts the EDFI General Assembly 2026 in Lugano.

• SIFEM commits USD 10 million to Nam A Bank.

Switzerland's development finance institution, an integral part of the Swiss international cooperation strategy, focused on poverty reduction and sustainable, inclusive economic growth.

• Long-term financing for SMEs

  Long-term financing provided to small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and emerging countries through local financial intermediaries.

• Equity and debt financing

  Financial instruments in various forms, including equity participation and debt, channeled through financial intermediaries.

• Fund investments

  Investments primarily in funds that in turn invest in companies in developing and emerging countries.

1. 1SIFEM – Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Marketssifem.ch
2. 2Im Überblick – SIFEMsifem.ch
3. 3Unser Team – SIFEMsifem.ch
4. 4Organisation – SIFEMsifem.ch
5. 5Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets – Wikidatawikidata.org