devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Eurobank Equity The project consists of a straight equity investment by IFC of up to EUR 50 million in Eurobank Ergasias S.A. (Eurobank or the Bank) to support the recapitalization of the Bank by participating in a private placement in the form of a Book Building Process (BBP) in accordance with the Greek recapitalization framework (the Recapitalization Framework).  The Bank is one of the four systemic banks in Greece, providing key banking product and services. As at 30 September 2015, the Bank had 73.8 billion, 51.7 billion and 30.5 billion in consolidated total assets, gross loans/advances to customers, and customer deposits, respectively. As at 30 September, 2015, it had a network of 927 branches (retail and corporate) in Greece and the other six countries in which it operates, and a total workforce of 16,662 employees. The Banks international presence covers Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine (available for sale), Cyprus and Luxembourg (including, in the latter jurisdiction, a banking subsidiary with one branch in Luxembourg and a branch in the United Kingdom). 1. A recapitalization before 1 January 2016 will:  -	Help restore confidence in the Greek banking system and the country overall therefore opening a path to recovery -	Preserve the position of current private investors, thereby maintaining private status of the Greek banks and minimizing use of additional tax payers'' funds -	Avoid the bail-in of depositors including individuals and SMEs -	Allow for a quicker exit of the Greek State from the Bank''s capital in the near future 2. The stabilization of the Greek economy will also have a positive spill-over effect on the neighboring countries
Greek Airports As part of the national privatization program and in order to modernize 14 regional airports, the Hellenic Republic in 2013 launched a tender for two clusters of seven airports each, Cluster A and Cluster B, through the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund S.A. (HRADF). In 2014, the concessions were awarded to Fraport Regional Airports of Greece A S. A. and Fraport Regional Airports of Greece B S. A. (collectively Fraport Greece). The shareholders of Fraport Greece are Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (Fraport) and Slentel Ltd. On 14 December 2015, the concession agreements were signed with HRADF and the Hellenic Republic. The Project consists of the privatization, upgrade, maintenance, management and operation of the seven Greek regional airports of Cluster A, under a 40 year concession (the Project). The airports service some of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. IFC''s involvement in this Project is expected to: (i) contribute to the modernization, refurbishment, operation and maintenance of country''s tourist focused airports without recourse to public funding; (ii) increase the capacity, improve the efficiency of airports operations and service levels of these airports for airlines and passengers; and (iii) support the growth of the regional economy of Greece by not only upgrading the airports but facilitating regional tourism and enhancing openness and competiveness. As a flagship privatization initiative, involvement of the private sector in the airports will provide a demonstration effect for future privatization projects both in Greece and neighboring countries.   It should serve as a precedent to generate investor appetite and attract further large scale external investment into the Greek economy.
Energy Sector Capacity Building Project (ESCBP) To strengthen the capacity of the Government of Tanzania to develop its natural gas sector and PPPs for the power generation sector.
Aanandi: Riverview table, .k-table{ border-collapse:collapse; width:100%; table-layout:fixed; margin-bottom: 15px;} .k-table, .k-table td, table, table td {outline: 0;border: 1px solid #000; } .k-table td, table td { padding: 5px; }       The proposed project (Aanandi: Riverview) is the construction completion of a seven-storey residential building located in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The property is located approximately six kilometers from the main town center within close proximity to many of the embassy buildings, set back one street from the Mekong River. The building will house 76 units covering a gross floor area of approximately 6,500 m   2   . Construction of the building is expected to be completed by the end of 2019 with the developer also managing the rental operations, targeted to commence at the start of 2020. (i) Increased quality housing supply to accommodate the business community: this will also counter the impact of rapid urbanization. The project will directly address the need for residential and business infrastructure given the increasing urbanization in the Vientiane area.

(ii) Promotion of gender equality: Through the support of a female, ethnic-Lao, lead sponsor returning to her country of birth.

(iii) Job creation and upskilling: The project is expected to create jobs both during the construction of the development sites and also post-completion, for the operation of rental management and building maintenance.  With a nascent construction development skill set among local developers, this project has capacity to impart significant international standard construction expertise to local construction contractors.

(iv) Local linkages: During construction, the project will increase demand for locally sourced labor and building materials in the country and promote inclusive growth through increased SME linkages.

(v) Community development: The apartment block built by the project will contribute to urban infrastructure development and surrounding community development.

(vi) Demonstration effect: signaling to foreign investors IFC's conviction for investment prospects in Laos, facilitating business accommodation, and encouraging participation in similar projects by local entrepreneurs.

(vii) Knowledge transfer: upskilling the local construction workforce through knowledge transfer from an internationally experienced construction and development team.
ACLEDA Bank (Lao) Ltd. This project comprises an IFC equity investment of LAK17.5 billion, approximately $1.83 equivalent in ACLEDA Bank Lao Ltd (ABL), a green-field banking/microfinance operation capitalized at LAK100 billion (approximately $10.4 million). ABL will operate as a commercial bank under the Commercial Banking Law in the Lao PDR, with its head office in Vientiane and branches through out the country.  Its main focus will be on the low-end segments of the market, leveraging on its parents (ACLEDA BANK plcs) expertise in MFI management and operation.  ACLEDA Bank plc (ACLEDA) is an existing IFC client in neighboring Cambodia.  ACLEDA was initially a microfinance operation and recently turned into full-fledged bank. ABL is ACLEDAs first step in its regional expansion strategy.  Under current local regulations, foreign investors are not allowed to set up MFIs in Laos, therefore, ABL will seek a full banking license. ACLEDA will be leveraging its relationship with existing strategic shareholders  IFC, KfW, FMO and Triodos Bank  in its Lao venture.  Thus, the proposed shareholding is as follows: ACLEDA- 30% with 17.5% each taken by IFC, KfW, FMO and Triodos Bank. - Economic development through financial intermediation:   Decreasing dependence of the country on foreign capital by utilizing domestic savings for investments.  - Access to credit for the underprivileged:    In Lao PDR, the level of unemployment and underemployment is high, and opportunities for formal wage employment are limited. A significant proportion of the population has turned to self-employment or started a small business. Lack of access to credit is the most important constraint to starting or expanding a business.   - Employment creation:    Large scale licensed retail banks are in a position to provide financial intermediation thereby creating employment and income generating opportunities through support to the development of the local private sector.
Lao Brewery Company, Ltd. Lao Brewery Company Limited (LB or the company) produces beer and mineral water in Laos.  The company plans to increase its beer production capacity by expanding existing facility in Vientiane and building a new facility in southern Laos. The current LB facility is located in the southwest suburban area of Vientiane, Laos.  For the aforementioned project, LB proposed to build a new plant in the southern suburb of Pakse, Champasak Province, Laos. The project is expected to have the following development impacts:     -  Supporting rural economy through a stable supply arrangement with rice farmers; -  Boosting employment and living standards by creating new jobs directly and indirectly in the company, its transport and distribution network, and local community;  -  Facilitating backward and forward linkages with input suppliers and service providers and retail outlets; and -  Developing the private sector by supporting a viable local company to expand its operations.
VLP Dry Port The project involves the financing of development, construction and equipment costs of a dry port in Vientiane, Laos (the Project). The Project is being developed by Sitthi Logistic Lao Co. Ltd. (Sitthi Logistics or Sponsor), part of the Phongsavanh Group, a diversified Laotian business conglomerate. In July 2020, the government of Lao awarded a 50-year concession to Vientiane Logistics Park Co. Ltd (VLP), a special purpose subsidiary established by the Sponsor to develop an integrated logistics park in Vientiane, which includes development of a brownfield dry port and a multi-service logistics park. IFC's financing will be used for financing of the dry port only through Thanaleng Dry Port Sole Co. Ltd (Project Company), a subsidiary of VLP. The Project has been partially operational since December 2021 and is expected to be fully operational by second quarter of 2022.Once fully operational, the Project is expected to offer access to advanced logistics services including multimodality, trans-shipment and value-added services with potential cost and time savings. IFC is the mandated lead arranger for the entire debt package and also will invest quasi equity in the Project Company. Project outcomes
Stakeholder effects: IFC anticipates that the Project will support improvement in transport logistics by introducing the first international standard dry port in Laos. Laos is a landlocked country with an underdeveloped logistics services industry and with transport prices twice as high as in other Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. Prior to the operation of the Project, the cross-border trade in Vientiane was served by the First Friendship Bridge Checkpoint, which suffered from severe capacity constraints and with limited ability to process the increased traffic from the Laos  China Railway. The Project is expected to offer access to advanced logistics services including multimodality, trans-shipment and value-added services with potential cost and time savings. 
Market Creation Integration: The Project is expected to improve integration by establishing a strategic node for trade in the region, as well as setting a precedent for the remaining seven dry ports (Pursuant to art. 8 of Decree No. 513/GOL on Dry Port dated 4 August 2021, there will be a total of 9 dry ports to be constructed including Thanaleng Dry Port in Laos) to be constructed. The lack of strategic inland nodes (dry ports) to facilitate trade between Laos and its neighbors have led to sub-optimal solutions where trade not always moves through the most direct route. The Project will improve integration by helping Laos to transform from a land-locked to a land-linked country, leveraging its strategic location and provide a range of services to help improve connectivity within Laos and the ASEAN member countries, and thereby facilitating efficient and cost-effective bilateral and transit trade.
VCB Lao Project IFC is expected to make an equity investment for a shareholding of up to 10% in Vientiane Commercial Bank Limited (VCB), including an expected capital call in the first year after completion of the proposed investment. VCB is the largest private sector commercial bank in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos). This investment would be made jointly with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) which is seeking to acquire a 60% stake in VCB, leaving 30% to be retained among key existing shareholders. The proposed IFC investment, alongside that of ANZ, aims to strengthen VCBs governance, management, strategy and commercial operations in a frontier market where banking services (particularly from private-sector banks) remain nascent but vital to support the countrys continued economic growth. The proposed investment, alongside a strong international partner, ANZ, would help upgrade the governance, management, strategy and commercial operations of VCB, the largest private-sector bank in Laos, which, in turn, would help deepen much-needed bank-intermediation in this frontier market. A baseline survey done by GTZ in 2006 shows that only 7.5% of enterprises surveyed (primarily SMEs) have received financing through banks while 68% indicated demand for loans. With regard to household and retail finance, penetration of banking services in Laos is extremely low as an estimated 90% of household savings are in the form of under-the-mattress cash instead of bank accounts; it is estimated that only 5% of the population has a bank account. Underpinned by increasing trade and industrial expansion (mainly infrastructure and mining), Laos recorded real GDP growth at 7.3% in 2005, a level that is forecasted to reach 7.2% for 2006 (EIU) and averaging 6.7% in 2007-2008. In light of the fledging banking sector, and one where less-efficient SOCBs maintain dominant share, upgrade of private-sector banking services is vital to foster and sustain economic growth going forward.
BOP ABL Project The proposed investment to ACLEDA Bank Lao Ltd. (ABL or the Bank) consists of a 3-year senior local currency loan of up to LAK93 billion (approximately US$10 million equivalent), to enable ABL to provide local currency funding to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country (the Project). The development impact of the proposed project is delivered through (i) increased access to finance for SMEs, which will support their capacity to sustain its operations and expedite post-crisis recovery; (ii) further medium and long-term funding from other lenders to support the BOP finance providers and deepen local currency markets as well as access to finance by SMEs.
Essilao Project Essilor International (Compagnie Générale dOptique) SA (Essilor) is setting up manufacturing facility for optical lens in Savannakhet, Lao P.D.R. This facility will manufacture polycarbonate eyeglass lenses, a type of optical lenses highly resistant to impact and particularly adapted for children.  The proposed IFC investment will support the establishment and operations of this facility. - Technology transfer: The project will bring Best-in-Class technology and manufacturing processes to LAO PDR, an IDA country with GDP/Capita of $1,101/year. Essilor applies the highest standard through standard operating procedures that are applied in each of its plants globally. - Creation of skilled jobs: The project will bring up to 250 jobs in the local area. - Human development: Essilor established a partnership with a local vocational training center and setup a workshop to train 50 to 60 operators and technicians every year to feed the plant''s  needs. - Demonstration effect for foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Essilor is the first large scale multinational corporation to have signed for a large investment on the Savannakhet Special Economic Zone,  and one the few MNCs investing in manufacturing in Lao P.D.R.   - Energy efficiency: the new plant will apply Essilor''s highest standards in terms of energy efficiency.
ABL Lao Kip II p.cls-NormalWeb { margin-top:0pt; line-height:107.5%; margin-bottom:0pt; text-align:left; font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size:12pt; margin-left:0pt; margin-right:0pt; } span.cls-DefaultParagraphFont { font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size:12pt; font-weight:normal; margin:0in; padding:0in; } table { border-collapse:collapse !important; width:100%; table-layout:fixed; border-spacing:0 !important; margin-bottom:15px; } .k-table, .k-table td, table, table td, div table, div table td {outline: 0;border: 1px solid #000;} .k-table td, table td, div table td { padding: 5px;}    The proposed investment to ACLEDA Bank Lao Limited (ACLEDA Lao or the Bank), a long term partner of IFC in Lao PDR, consists of a guarantee of up to US$9.2 million equivalent in Lao Kip of a senior loan provided by a third party lender. The purpose of the loan is to support ACLEDA Laos lending program to small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lao PDR, including to women-owned or women-run businesses. Access to finance has been identified as a major constraint for SME's business growth in Lao PDR, with only 4.9% of SMEs having access to finance compared to 11.5% in the East Asia and Pacific. The proposed Project aims to overcome this obstacle as risk mitigation from IFC will provide comfort to a local currency lender to provide funding to the Bank, which in turn will be used to expand the Bank's SME portfolio and to further accelerate the Bank's reach to the SME segment.
Millicom Lao Millicom Lao Company Limited (MLL or the company) is a joint venture between Millicom International Cellular S.A. (78%) and the Ministry of Communication, Transport, Post and Construction of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (22%). MLL was awarded a 20-year license in 2002 and launched services in April 2003. The company is the third largest provider of GSM mobile telecommunications services in Laos, with a subscriber base of approximately 30,000. 

The project consists of the expansion and upgrading of companys network to provide MLL increased capacity and national coverage.
BFL Loan Project The Project (BFL Loan) consists of a senior loan of up to US$15 million to be provided to the Banque Franco-Lao Ltd. (BFL or the Bank) with a up to 7-year maturity in order to support the Bank to further extend loans to the SME sector in Lao PDR. (i) Increase access to credit for SMEs and individual clients in Laos where banking penetration is still very low.  (ii) Demonstration effect: this will be the second loan of IFC in a commercial bank in Laos thus far and provide a role model for commercial banks keen to strengthen their corporate governance and better serve their customers and save cost.
EdL Rural Electrification The Electricité du Laos (EdL)-Rural Power project will support the second phase of the IDA Rural Electrification Adaptable Loan Program (REP II).  The Project involves an up to US$15 million IFC senior loan with up to 9 years maturity with a 2 year grace to partially finance EdLs 43 Million rural grid expansion, loss reduction and energy efficiency program.  The program consists of the expansion of the medium and low voltage distribution network and substations for rural electrification to serve approximately 38300 HH in Southern part of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (LAO PDR). Increased rural electrification. Lao PDR has increased its electrification rates substantially from 16% in 1995 to 44.6% in 2004 and to approximately 60% in 2007.  However, the country continues to have one of the lowest electrification rates in the Mekong region, which hinders its ability to attract investments and to develop rural areas. The project will provide access to electricity to approximately 27,000 rural families and assist the GoLs MDG of increasing electrification coverage to 70% by 2012, including rural areas.  Rural electrification has been identified as critical for employment generation and for the creation and ongoing support to SMEs.

Climate change mitigation through increased energy efficiency. The Project has a strong climate change component with its emphasis on (i) distribution system loss reduction, energy conservation, and energy efficiency improvements; (ii) improved access to electricity thereby reducing use of traditional fuels. 

Achievement of the project development objective would be measured by:  (i) number of households electrified; and (iii) EdLs distribution system losses;
KS Hotels Project The project involves development of (i) a 23-room 5-star hotel in Luang Prabang, Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), and (ii) two four-star socially responsible hotels, with expected 20 to 30 rooms per hotel, in Lao PDR and/or Cambodia.  The new hotel in Luang Prabang will be undertaken by KS Resort Luangprabang Co., Ltd. (the Company), an existing hotel company in Laos that runs a boutique 4-star hotel (3 Nagas) in Luang Prabang. The two 4-star hotels included in the project shall be undertaken by the Company and / or other subsidiaries of the sponsor. (i) Benefits to Consumers:  Consumers will have improved availability and quality of high-end hotel rooms in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR where such supply is currently very limited. 
(ii) Enhanced Linkages, Local Supply Chain, and Community Development:  The project will generate additional downstream linkages with local producers of goods (mainly produce, meats, and crafts) and services (local tour operators). In addition, as the project involves a UNESCO-certified development which would preserve a heritage building, this would benefit the Luang Prabang tourism environment which is a UNESCO heritage site. 
(ii) Employment Generation:  The project will create new employment, both directly and indirectly. It will provide additional direct employment with a multiplier effect along the supply chain.
SEF Villa Santi The project is to expand hotel operations by adding 56 rooms to the existing 25 rooms; in addition a garden and recreation/sports facilities will be added with the overall concept being a garden resort.  The project''s concept responds directly to increasing demand for better quality rooms and tourist facilities in Luang Prabang.     IFC''s involvement in this project enables long term loan financing for the project, both in terms of the IFC loan as well as a parallel loan from a local bank.  The local bank has approved their loan because of the IFC managed Mekong Project Development Facility (MPDF)  assistance to the project and IFC''s proposed financing.  Without IFC, significant long term funds would not have been available, and thus, the project would not have been able to go forward at this time.  The project has been developed with the assistance of MPDF, who has worked with the company for over a year to strengthen the project plan and, in particular, improve the hotel''s management capabilities and increase training of staff.    Funds are sought under the IFC''s Extending the Reach Program. With its 100% Lao ownership, the project fits both MPDF''s and the IFC Extending the Reach Program''s shared objective to promote development of local small and medium scale enterprises.  The venture is also in line with IFC''s overall strategy to support Lao PDR''s transition to a market economy while helping to meet the country''s need to earn and save foreign exchange.  The project will have a demonstration effect for local banks by encouraging them to develop stronger capacities to evaluate risk, and consider other projects, in the Lao PDR tourism sector.    The project is in line with the Wold Bank Group long term strategy to reduce poverty, promote infrastructure, and promote human resource development, as well as fitting the World Bank Group strategy to promote macroeconomic stability and further enable the environment for private sector development.