According to the Bank’s website, this facility will provide a Partial Portfolio Guarantee (PPG) to Vista Gui to support eligible investments by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Guinea, a country designated by the United Nations (UN) as one of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). In a second phase, the facility may be extended to Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and The Gambia, three other LDCs in West Africa.

This operation will contribute to economic resilience and employment generating activities in the region, in a context of heightened risk and vulnerability. It is conducted under the SME Access to Finance Initiative supported by the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) under the EU's External Investment Plan. It is proposed following the decision of the European Commission, at the end of 2023, to include the LDCs among the priority areas where all loans to eligible SMEs can benefit from an enhanced guarantee.

The facility's main added-value lies in the fact that SMEs operating in these fragile countries face various obstacles and uncertainty, making it almost essential to go through the intermediary of a commercial bank, as opposed to directly lending to SMEs or through a Government-linked entity.

The aim is to bolster SMEs investments in the targeted countries. The EIB will commit to sharing risks over an extended duration, enabling Vista Gui in Guinea and potentially other banking subsidiaries of the same group in Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and The Gambia to expand their lending activities in underserved market segments, securing loans to SMEs with an 80% guarantee, up to 20% of a portfolio of maximum EUR 80,000,000.

A Partial Portfolio Guarantee (PPG).

VISTAGUI, a subsidiary of the Vista Bank Group, is a public limited company headquartered in Conakry (Guinea). Founded in 1985, VISTAGUI is one of the leading banks in Guinea.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

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