devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Minsheng Edu 2 The proposed IFC investment is an A loan of up to RMB 750 million (approximately US$100 million
equivalent) to Chongqing Minsheng Education Management Co., Ltd. (the Borrower), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Minsheng Education Group Company Limited (Minsheng or the Company). This is to support
Minshengs expansion, consolidation, operation and upgrade plan to replicate its successful tertiary education
model in frontier regions of China. The Company plans to acquire and upgrade tertiary and vocational
education institutions (the Project). At the project stakeholder level, IFC anticipates that the Project will expand access to improved quality, affordable tertiary education particularly focusing on the frontier provinces of Jiangxi and Anhui; as well as other frontier regions in China. The Project is also expected to have positive inclusion effects to attract more students from ethnic minorities. At the market level, IFC anticipates that the Project will help drive further consolidation in a fragmented market and raise standards for Minsheng's competitors, particularly in the area of graduate employability where Minsheng has historically achieved graduate employment rates of above 90%.
Jilin Zhengye Agriculture Development Co. ADC was established in 1998, when Mr. Han took-over a slaughterhouse in GongZhuLing from a failing state owned enterprise (SOE).  With equity funding from ZG, ADC subsequently acquired a pig farm and an 82% stake in a feed mill. IFC will be funding the next phase of the venture that will complete the integration of ADCs pig breeding operations.  The project, to be implemented over five years, will introduce improved slaughter pigs in the Jilin market, and fresh and processed pork products in the Jilin province.  US-based PIC (recently renamed Sygen International plc.) is ADCs technical partner responsible for providing the genetic stock and technical support to breed improved pigs.  The PIC pigs yield up to 25% more meat than local breeds and have higher feed-to-meat conversion ratios.  The proposed venture involves the establishment of eleven pig breeding farms, a processing plant and the acquisition an existing slaughterhouse. In addition to the assets already acquired.   Development Impact Upon completion, the project will favorably impact more than 10,000 farmers in Jilin province.  They will earn higher incomes derived from productivity gains associated with breeding the improved pigs supplied by ADC.  Feed cost savings to the pig breeding industry is estimated at $15 million per annum.  These savings will eventually be captured by the end-consumer.  Farmers will also benefit from technical support from PIC and ADC as well as from insights to modern pig breeding techniques.  The project will be a major source of employment via the creation of 1,200 jobs.  The workers will earn approximately 33% above their present wages.  In addition, ADC will be undertaking many activities previously done by less efficient and financially impaired SOEs, and in so ding  it will promote more efficient allocation of resources.  The investment objectives are in-line with the provincial governments efforts to develop the pig-breeding and corn industries, two priority sectors for Jilin province, considered the grain bowl of China.  Given its substantial benefits to the local community, the project has strong support from the provincial authorities.  IFCs Role IFC will:  provide long-term financing presently not available to support this five year project; strengthen a private enterprises efforts to be the largest fully integrated pig-operation in Jilin province;  support an integrated project that will be the role model for other industry players;  assist ADC in implementing a MIS system, utilizing IFCs Trust Funds, and  establish a fair pricing mechanism for PIC pigs sold to ADC.
Shanshui III The Shanshui Cement Group (or the company), an existing IFC client, is undertaking a cement and clinker capacity expansion program through strategic acquisitions with follow-on capital expenditure at the site at the sites of the acquired companies in Shandong and Liaoning provinces as well as some new capacity addition in Liaoning province. - Supporting industry consolidation:  The Government is encouraging industry consolidation, particularly through the growth of larger, efficient producers of high quality cement (such as the company), and the consolidation of small, inefficient and polluting producers of low quality cement. The companys strategy of acquiring inefficient state owned enterprises and improving efficiencies through better management, improved technology and economies of scale complements this objective.  - Encouraging shift to more efficient technology:  IFC will continue to support the company to embrace the technological shift in the cement industry from NSP to VSK.  Such shift will benefit Chinas economy in terms of less pollution and greater energy efficiency.    - Supporting investment in Chinas rustbelt.   The Government is encouraging companies to invest in frontier markets such as Liaoning, and to privatize state owned enterprises and improve their efficiencies.  This project would be a major step in that direction. An important element of the companys expansion strategy is to enter Liaoning province, which is the heart of Chinas rustbelt.
Zhaoheng Hydropower Holdings Ltd. The Project is to support the capital expenditure plan of Zhaoheng Hydropower Holdings Limited (Zhaoheng, or the Company), a local private-sector small-to-medium hydropower developer by contributing to its equity capital and providing long-term debt to finance several under-construction projects in the Companys portfolio.  Zhaoheng was incorporated as a Cayman Islands based entity which owns indirectly, through an intermediate vehicle Zhaoheng Hong Kong, 100% interest of Shengzhen Zhaoheng Hydropower Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen Zhaoheng), a Sino-foreign Investment Holding Company incorporated in the Peoples Republic of China.  Shenzhen Zhaoheng currently owns 36 small-to-medium sized hydropower assets in China with total capacity of around 683MW consisting of operational capacity of 558MW and under-construction capacity of 125MW. Over 90% of the Companys projects are located in the southern frontier regions including Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Hubei Province in China.  The Company has grown through a) acquisitions of existing operational hydropower projects, or acquisition of distressed under-construction hydropower projects and completing such projects, b) development and construction of greenfield hydropower projects, and c) technical upgrade and optimization of existing hydropower projects a)	Support hydro power development: Despite significant hydro power potential, the country is at a nascent stage in terms of harnessing this abundant resource for power generation. The Project is expected to help demonstrate the viability of small-scale hydro power generation in China and thus help attract further investments into this sub-sector.    b)	Support climate change mitigation:  The Project is expected to displace fossil fuel based power stations, helping reduce local air pollutants, improving air quality for the local population, reducing global greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to climate change mitigation.   c)	Private sector development. The project will develop critical infrastructure to end-users, while adding more capacity in new private hydro power generation.  d)	Benefits to the Government: Development of this project will support GoC''s long term energy security policy. Additionally, the project will generate income taxes which will be paid over the life of IFC''s investment.  e)	Benefits to Customers: Demand for electricity in China is expected to grow in the medium to long term, in line with expected GDP growth. The increase in energy supply will serve not only individuals, but also industrial clients.
Colony China Opportunity Fund The project entails an equity investment of the lower of 

-  10% of the total fund capitalization, or 

-  $50 million in the proposed Colony China Opportunity Fund (the fund).  Included in this investment, IFC would seek a stake of 10% in the General Partner (GP) of the fund. 

The fund is a 7-year closed-end distressed asset investment fund, to be established as a Cayman Islands limited partnership.  An on-shore parallel fund, which will co-invest pari passu with the fund, will be set up as a Chinese limited liability company to facilitate participation by domestic investors, including co-sponsor Shanghai Industrial Investment Co. (SIIC).  The fund will invest in:

-  acquisition of NPL pools from financial institutions, 
-  direct purchase of distressed real estate assets, and, to a lesser extent, 
-  restructuring of distressed operating companies in PRC, Hong Kong, and Macau (Greater China).  

The joint sponsors, Colony Capital Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. (CCAP) and SIIC, will leverage CCAPs global and Asian distressed investment experience with SIICs domestic business and government relationships to optimize the funds ability to source, structure and execute distressed investments, aiming to achieve a gross IRR in excess of 25%.  The joint sponsors are seeking to raise total capital, for both the off-shore and on-shore vehicles, of $250-$500 million, and expect to conduct a first closing by the end of first quarter of 2004.  The fund will charge a 2% annual management fee, and will pay the GP a 20% carried interest based on committed capital after achieving a 10% p.a. hurdle rate.
Fullerton Credit The proposed project consists of an IFC senior loan of US$50 million equivalent denominated in RMB to Fullerton Credit (Sichuan) Ltd (FCSC),  Fullerton Credit (Chongqing) Ltd (FCCQ),  and Fullerton Credit (Hubei) Ltd (FCHB) (together, the Companies).  The proposed investment is consistent with all aspects of IFCs China Strategy and Global Microfinance Strategy, particularly in increasing access to finance for the underserved - the micro and small business enterprises and the self-employed mass market.  The project would facilitate a stable source of long-term funding which would help the Companies grow their business in Western and Central China. Expanding Access to Finance for MSEs : Micro and Small Enterprises ("MSEs") play an important role in creating employment and contributing to local economy particularly in less developed regions. Nevertheless, MSEs are under-served by traditional financial institutions.   The expansion of the Companies will help address this issue by increasing credit supply accessible and affordable by MSEs; 

Supporting Economic Growth in Frontier Regions: Frontier regions in China have experienced much  pronounced difficulties in access to finance for MSEs, which hinders the economic growth in these regions. The Companies, operating in three large frontier provinces, i.e., Sichuan, Chongqinq and Hubei, will expand access to credit in these regions, specifically to MSEs, thereby supporting the continued growth of the local economy;

Demonstration Effect of Setting Best Practice in the Burgeoning Chinese Microfinance Sector:    The Companies have potential to become model institutions in China in serving the MSEs with a novel business model.  The success of the Companies is likely to attract other MCCs to emulate, with a demonstration effect to stimulate the healthy development for the entire sector.
Renshou VTB Renshou Village and Township Bank (RVTB) is a greenfield microfinance bank registered as a village and township bank (VTB) with the approval from the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). Its main operation is in Renshou, Sichuan Province. The purpose of the project is to support RVTB to expand microfinance lending. The vast rural and peri-rural region of Western China has poor access to formal finance. The proposed Project will provide financial services to small and micro customers in the Renshou county in Sichuan Province. IFCs investment will result in increasing the availability of financial services to this large, underserved group. Supporting productive small businesses will in turn stimulate growth, employment generation and poverty reduction.
Muyuan Loan Project Description: Muyuan Foodstuff Co., Ltd. (Muyuan Foodstuff) is a pig breeder and hog producer located in China. IFCs proposed loan investment of $20M will primarily support the development of a Project of the Company to allow for annual production of 300,000 hogs. Upon completion, this Project would expand further Muyuan Foodstuffs hog production. mployment: The Company''s operations are located in Province - a frontier region in China. It provides stable employment opportunities for thousands, including  female employees. Farmers reached: Currently, a significant number of rural households supply the Company with raw materials such as corn, barley and silage.    SMEs reached:  Company sells its breeds to rural pig farms for further fattening for sale to market.  Food Safety:  The Chinese hog sector is still very fragmented, leading to poor hygiene standards, inadequate bio-security, poor nutrition, and over-use of antibiotics. By creating a larger enterprise with greater focus on efficiency and food safety, the Company supports the improvement of breeding techniques, quality standards as well as the production efficiency of the industry.
Launch Tech Launch Tech Company Limited (Launch Tech or the Company) is a Chinese firm that designs and manufactures tools and equipment used in the automotive aftermarket sector.   Its product line includes automotive diagnostic equipment, lifts, wheel aligners and balancers, tire changers and other products such as emission testing equipment and hand tools.  The Company was founded in 1992 by Messrs. LIU Xin and LIU Jun and is today the leading manufacturer of automotive diagnostic equipment in China.  Launch Tech was listed on the Hong Kong GEM board in October 2002.

The project consists of Launch Techs capital investment program to (i) consolidate its various Shenzhen-based production and facilities into a single new complex; (ii) expand the operations of its lift equipment manufacturing facility in Shanghai; and (iii) purchase new manufacturing equipment, (the Project).  By implementing the Project, the Company aims to: (i) integrate Launch Techs manufacturing, administrative and R&D facilities into one location in Shenzhen; (ii) increase the Companys manufacturing and R&D capacity; and (iii) reduce costs.  Bringing together the existing facilities will allow Launch Tech to maintain its competitive advantage, better cater to market demand, provide additional R&D and manufacturing capacity and execute on its growth strategy.
Asia Environment Asia Environment Holdings Ltd. (Asia Environment or the company) is a holding company incorporated in Singapore.  Through its subsidiaries, it provides integrated water and wastewater treatment products and services to municipalities and industries, primarily in China.  The company is based in Yixing, China, and publicly listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange since December 2003.  Over the years, Asia Environment has emerged as one of the leading local players in the Chinese water treatment industry.  It specializes in the research and development of treatment technologies, the manufacturing of treatment equipment, provision of turnkey services related to wastewater treatment systems, and more recently has expanded into the investment in and management of large-scale Build-Operate-Transfer/Transfer-Operate-Transfer (BOT/TOT) water and wastewater projects. China is facing serious challenges in terms of water shortage and environmental pollution.  By contributing to improved water quality in China, the project will result in public health improvements, including a reduction in water-borne diseases.  The project will also demonstrate the ability of the private sector to operate successfully in the water and sanitation sector, which is crucial to Chinas sustainable development.
Wanjie Cancer Hospital The project consists of an expansion of Wan Jie Hospital''s existing facilities located in Zibo, Shandong Province, about 150 miles east of the provincial capital, Jinan.  The proposed expansion includes the installation of a Proton Treatment System (PTS) to be housed in a new 600 bed facility.  Construction of the new facility is expected to commence in the third quarter of 2000 and operations would commence in the second quarter of 2002.          Cancer is the leading cause of mortality and is increasingly becoming a major healthcare issue in China.    IFC proposes to provide long-term, limited recourse financing for the construction of a world-class cancer treatment facility that would serve the growing needs of the Chinese population.    As part of the project, IFC is also facilitating a strategic alliance between the Zibo Wan Jie Tumor Hospital and one or two internationally renowned North American hospitals to improve overall operations.  This project also supports the government''s recent decision to corporatize/privatize healthcare service delivery to minimize the drain on government resources and improve overall services.
Sino-Forest Plantation Project The project is to invest in tree plantations and wood-related downstream manufacturing plants in China.  The project will operate eucalyptus, acacia, pine and aspen plantations in three Chinese provinces, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu. In each province, the project will construct one or two manufacturing plants to produce wood related products such as particleboard and finger joint boards.   The project will have a significant development impact in that some of the trees that the project will harvest and replant are plantations for which the World Bank provided the original funding and the technical support to reduce pressure on Chinas natural forest. The project will generate cash from tree sales and plantation maintenance for local inhabitants from these plantations.  The project will also contribute to the improvement of the local communities'' living standards because the project will hire hundreds of local workers.   SFC has requested IFC to assist with financing this project because the IFC is still one of the few sources of long-term limited recourse finance in China today.  SFC is also seeking IFCs participation because of our financing experience in China including our ability to mobilize private financing.
Dazhou Koyo Fertilizer The proposed project involves the construction and operation of a 400,000 tons per annum (tpa) and 450,000 tpa ammonia/urea complex in Dazhou city, Sichuan, China.  Dazhou Koyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd ( the company or Koyo) is a company engaged in the small scale production of urea and ammonium carbonate.  The company is located in Dazhou, 400 km away from Chengdu City, a poor region of China with rich natural gas reserves.  This project will use gas as the primary feedstock. The Capital Expenditure Program will create employment opportunities.  It is expected that the project will employ 400 people on a permanent basis, as well as 1000 for the construction.  In addition, the proposed project will contribute to the development of the local economy.  First, Koyo [plans to rely exclusively on Chinese contractors and construction workers for the implementation of the Project. Second, it will provide much needed fertilizer to a region of China that has been devastated by the earthquake of May 2008.  Lastly, the company has an ongoing education program to help local Chinese farmers improve their use of fertilizers, which Koyo plans to enhance as a result of this project.  The key development indicators that are proposed to be monitored during the life of the IFC investment are:   - direct employment levels,  - volume of urea available to the local farmers - contribution to enhancing local farmer awareness of improved fertilizer usage  - value of construction contracts awarded to local firms.  - use local resource and enhance local economy which is primary agriculture-based
Wasion Group IFC is considering to invest up to US$20 million equity in Wasion Group Holdings Limited (Wasion or the Company)  and the proceeds will be used to develop the Companys Advanced Distribution Operations (ADO) business. 1. Support the development of state-of-the-art smart energy grid: The project will have strong demonstration effect not only in China, but also in all emerging markets that suffer from sub-optimal energy grid and associated considerable waste of energy. The successful outcome of the project should help to cascade similar initiatives in other poor counties.  2. Positive impact on energy efficiency: The project will have an important impact on CO2 reduction, by increasing end-users'' access to energy efficiency equipment through the company''s core business.  3. Employment generation: The expansionary aspects of the project will provide employment opportunities both directly and indirectly in the frontier region in China.
Scana Leshan SUMMARY OF PROJECT INFORMATION (SPI)     Project Name		China-Scana Leshan Metallurgical Joint Venture Co., Ltd.    Region 			Asia    Sector 			Iron and Steel Manufacturing    Project No.		007071    Projected Board Date	November 14, 1997    Company Name		Scana Leshan Metallurgical Joint Venture Co., Ltd.    Technical Partner and/or   Major Shareholders	The majority (60%) shareholder will be Scana Industrier, asa, of Norway.  Leshan Metallurgical Machinery and Roll Works (Leshan Works) will hold a 30% share.  IFC is considering taking up the remaining 10% share.    Project Cost	About US$ 29.9 million.    IFC financing being considered: US$ 6.1 million A Loan; US$ 1.35 million in equity.    Location of Project    and Description of   Site	Shawan District, Leshan City, Sichuan Province, China.  The site is the existing production facility of Leshan Works, located on the Chengdu-Kunming Railway and on the Dadu River.    Description of Company   and Purpose of Project	The project company will be a limited liability sino-foreign joint venture company incorporated in China.  The project is to restructure the ownership of Leshan Works, a state-owned enterprise, update its technological base, and introduce new management principles.  The company will have the capacity to produce 30,000 tons per year of iron and steel rolls, components and parts for heavy industrial use.    Environment Category   and Issues	This is an environmental review category B project, with special issues.  The special issues are related to its significant social impacts, which include labor redundancies and a separation of Leshan Works productive operations from its social services obligations.  A Social Agreement has been negotiated to mitigate these issues.   	Other environmental issues associated with this project include potential site contamination, air emissions, liquid effluents, and solid waste management.  Occupational health and safety issues include fire safety and emergency response, equipment guarding and employee exposure to noise, chemical substances, heat and dust.  An environmental audit has been carried out for the production plants.  A detailed environmental action plan for mitigating these issues and bringing the facilities in compliance with both local regulations and the World Bank guidelines will be part of the Investment Agreement.    	The Environmental Review Summary is available from the Public Information Center.    Date SPI sent to PIC	October 14, 1997.  Environmental documents for this project are available at http://www.ifc.org and from the World Bank InfoShop (http://www.worldbank.org/html/pic/aboutinfo.html).