devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Detroit Investments Detroit Investments Ltd. (DI or the company), a Cyprus-based entity, is the main investment vehicle of the Detroit Group which is involved in the production and distribution of beverages (beer, mineral water, fruit juices) in Belarus and Russia. DI is also the sponsor of two IFC projects: DBBC and PIP-Vladpivo.   Detroit Investments requested for further IFC support as the company expands into the juice sector in Belarus and the IT services sector in Russia.  IFCs investment and participation in this transaction will facilitate the  establishment of the first commercial juice company in Belarus via the privatization of underperforming assets and support DI, an existing client, as it diversifies into a regional player and enters the IT services sector. DI will be acquiring a minority stake in BAC, a Russian IT services provider, that provides systems integration and business application services to the agribusiness, finance, telecommunications and transport sectors.   Note: This SPI was updated to incorporate information about DIs investments in the IT sector in Russia in lieu of its original plans to invest in the retail sector in Belarus. - Private sector development:    DI plans to expand in the juice sector via the privatization of underperforming assets in a frontier country. To date, there has been negligible progress on the privatization front and little Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Belarus. DIs Investment Program is likely to be a catalyst for further FDI. DI will rehabilitate and transform idle assets into a juice plant that will be comparable to international production standards. This will result in the production of safe and affordable juice products that will be available to a wider segment of consumers and serve as a vital source of vitamins during the colder season. The successful privatization of a high-visibility company will have tremendous demonstration effects beyond the immediate sector.   - Employment and living standards:    The juice plant will be significant employer in their respective local municipalities. These operations will create new and direct employment and provide indirect job opportunities along its supply chain. Additional jobs will also be created indirectly as the company develops its transport and distribution networks.   In the IT sector, BAC has more than 500 employees and is expected to employ more than 1,000 people in the next 2-3 years. BAC has in-house training programs on leading software applications that provide specialized knowledge and capacity building for its employees.  - Backward and forward linkages:   The establishment of the beverage operations will help create a class of micro-entrepreneurs who run small retail outlets, kiosks, restaurants and transport companies. This investment will also facilitate the transfer of modern distribution, warehousing and retail techniques and enhance supply chain efficiency in Belarus.   - Offering consumers a more affordable and reliable IT services   The development of local IT service companies will provide end-users will more affordable, reliable and efficient IT services.
RBI Equity Project The project consists of a straight equity investment by IFC of up to EUR150 million in Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI).   The shares, which are listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange, were acquired by participating in a private placement by RBI in the form of an Accelerated Bookbuilding (ABB). The ABB is part of a capital increase and is followed by a rights issue to existing investors.  RBI has confirmed to IFC that it will deploy the IFC investment in the form of Tier 1 capital as part of its capital planning in the subsidiaries ZAO Raiffeisenbank, Raiffeisen Bank d.d. Bosna i Hercegovina, Raiffeisen Bank Polska S.A. and Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo J.S.C. (Selected Subsidiaries). The proposed investment would allow IFC to i) Counter the deleveraging effect by providing the RBI subs with tier 1 capital, ii) enable RBI to continue supporting SME customers, promoting economic activity and job creation in the respective countries, iii) contribute to the banking sector stability by increasing the capital of the emerging markets subsidiaries and iv) have a signaling effect to the market showing support to the banking sector in ECA.
Schwarz Group Schwarz Group (the Group or the company) is one of the largest European discount retailers. It operates two types of discount food stores in Europe:   -  Lidl, limited range deep discount stores; and  -  Kaufland compact discount hypermarkets.   The purpose of the project is for the company to plan a large expansion program, involving the establishment of a number of new stores and hypermarkets in Central and Eastern Europe to be implemented over the next couple of years.
ISC-Eleven Project IFC is considering an equity investment of up to EUR 3 million in Eleven Fund III (Eleven or the Fund) a Bulgaria based seed fund that is focused on opportunities across South-eastern Europe (SEE) with a primary focus on Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, and Croatia. The Fund Manager is currently raising a EUR 55 million target Fund III with a target first close of 25 million.  The fund will be managed by  Daniel Tomov, Ivalylo Simov, Martin Ouzounov, Vassil Terziev and Valeri Petrov who possess strong operational and entrepreneurial experience This investment is expected help support the local start-up ecosystems and further develop venture capital markets in the SEE region. Supporting the development of start-up and VC ecosystems also enables creation of a constant and quality pipeline of investment opportunities that investors at Series A stage and beyond depend upon
DARP Ursa Project The proposed project consists of an investment in one or more Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) funded alongside local partner-servicer in Romania. The SPV will purchase a portfolio of non-performing loans (NPLs) issued by the Romanian subsidiary of a large regional bank. The NPLs consist of small and medium enterprise (SME), small business, and retail. Through the proposed project, IFC would play an important role in (i) providing an attractive mechanism for NPL resolution in the region; (ii) assisting with balance sheet management of the selling bank, increasing liquidity; (iii) mobilize funding from the private sector. (i)  Economic Development: The successful implementation of the project would improve the secondary market for distressed assets in the countries of investment and could catalyze investment interest on the part of other investors.  A developed secondary market in NPL trading and servicing is a stabilizing factor in financials systems.  This allows the financial institutions selling DAs to reallocate capital to other activities, hopefully, new lending.   (ii) Business Environment: As banks in the region increase the sale of their distressed assets to independent private investors, the transparency of those institutions'' balance sheets should improve as the assets sold would be priced according to market conditions.  (iii)  Financial Infrastructure: IFC''s involvement in this project would positively impact the market place by building NPL servicing capacity in the financial markets. The project is expected to increase the ability of financial intermediaries in the country to offload their assets, particularly non-performing ones, improve liquidity and devote  resources to originating new transactions
Dalkia DH Project This investment supports a new holding company (the Company), expected to be established in France, using existing investments in district heating (DH) in the Baltic states as a platform, for expansion into district heating ventures in Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries.  DH networks in the CIS region represent a very large capital investment, comparable in scale to that of the regions power sector.  Neglect of this capital stock has resulted in extensive water leakages, excess energy use and adverse environmental impacts.  The investment proposed here directly addresses water conservation, energy efficiency and environmental improvement The need for increased capital and operating expertise in the district heating networks of the former Soviet Union has been clear for many years.  A decade long reform effort has recently attracted international industry capital and expertise to the power sector but low tariffs, constrained by limited affordability, has resulted in little progress in the heating sector. A number of domestic groups have entered the sector in recent years, often in conjunction with power distribution.  They are new to the heating sector; achieving the improved technical performance they projected has proven a challenge and most are now also suffering from capital constraints.  Effective intervention in this sector has the potential to deliver very considerable development impact. 

Dalkia has demonstrated its ability to achieve significant improvements in the heating sectors of post-Communist markets in Lithuania and Estonia and to generate returns for the long term upgrading of the networks.  It is the international industry investor best placed to make a region-wide impact on these systems.  

Reduced water losses, energy savings and heat generation in CHPs create savings which allow improved maintenance and upgrading, the provision of an improved service and the preservation of important capital assets. 

More efficient use of water and energy, conversion from HOBs to CHPs, and the increased use of renewable fuels in these CHPs, brings local environment benefits, which also contribute to climate change goals. 

Improved technical, operational, managerial, environmental, and corporate governance standards in the heating companies will promote the wider development of PPPs and contracting out of services by municipalities.
Soufflet LT Groupe Soufflet (Soufflet or the Group) is a mid-size, vertically-integrated, global agribusiness group whose main activities include the procurement, primary processing and trading of grains - primarily wheat and barley. With presence in 18 countries, the Group is a leading agricultural input distributor, grain originator, grain exporter, wheat miller and industrial baker in its home-base of France as well as a global market leader in malting. The project entails support to the Groups strategy in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) to (i) increase the capacity and improve E&S standards of its grain silos; (ii) improvement and maintenance capex at the malting plants; and (iii) maintain a buffer to support growth and absorb the impact of grain price volatility on its WC needs (the Project). The Project will directly support the Groups financing needs in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania and Poland (collectively, the Project Countries). The development impact of the Project is expected to include: (i) Small-holders reach as the IFC financing will be channeled by Soufflet throughout the agricultural supply chain; (ii) Improved food security through increased productivity and investments agricultural infrastructure in countries with strong potential.
SEAF Caucasus Growth Fund The proposed investment is in SEAF Caucasus Growth Fund (SEAF Caucasus or the Fund), a $60-70 million private equity fund, sponsored by Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF), that will invest in small and medium enterprises (SME) in the Caucasus region, primarily in the target countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. This project is in line with IFCs overall strategy for investments in the Caucasus region. The expected development impact of the project includes:
- Support of SMEs: All target portfolio companies in the fund will be SMEs.
- IDA Country Focus: The three target countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, are IDA-blend countries.
- Economic Development: Provision of long-term capital to sectors traditionally overlooked by the formal banking sector will allow companies to grow which can lead to increased output and increased employment.
- Private Sector Development: Manager employs a hands-on, value-added strategy with portfolio companies, providing professional management and operations support and expertise leading to better competitiveness and sustainability in SMEs.
- Support a nascent private equity industry in the Caucasus.
Soufflet 2 Project Groupe Soufflet (Soufflet or the Group) is a mid-size, vertically-integrated, global agribusiness group whose main activities include the procurement, primary processing and trading of grains - primarily wheat and barley. With presence in 16 countries, the Group is a leading agricultural input distributor, grain originator, grain exporter and wheat miller in its home-base of France as well as a global market leader in malting. The project entails support to the Groups strategy in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) to (i) increase in-kind pre-financing to farmers and grow its non-barley business; (ii) decrease foreign exchange risk by increasing local currency funding; and (iii) maintain a buffer to absorb the impact of grain price volatility on the Groups working capital needs (the Project). The Project will directly support the Groups working capital needs in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia and Poland (collectively, the Project Countries). The development impact of the Project is expected to include: (i) Small-holders reach as the IFC financing will be channeled by Soufflet throughout the agricultural supply chain; (ii) Improved food security through increased productivity; (iii) Private sector development in challenging business environments.
Veolia Voda Veolia Voda (the Company) operates water and sanitation infrastructure (water treatment plants, water distribution systems, wastewater treatment plants, sewerage collection systems) owned by municipalities or associations of municipalities in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.  Apart from a few exceptions (concessions or operating models with limited contractual investments), the Company does not own these assets.  The vast majority of its contracts involve only the operation and maintenance of the systems.  Over the next 12 months, the Company plans to enter the Russian and Ukrainian water and sanitation sectors, as well as explore other opportunities in Central and Eastern Europe. To support the Companys expansion into these new markets, IFC is considering an equity investment in Veolia Voda for up to 50 million.  Veolia Voda is 90 percent owned by Véolia Eau-Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE), the worlds largest water services company.  Since 2007, EBRD has owned the remaining 10 percent stake in the Company. The challenges in the water sector in this region, where access is almost universal, include inadequate and deteriorating infrastructure, high levels of leakage and poor water quality. Insufficient funding for maintenance is a pervasive weakness contributing to most of these issues.   Capital is needed to rehabilitate aged infrastructure, increase the efficiency of utilities and improve water quality and sanitation services.  Safe drinking water and better waste treatment impact health and productivity directly.  Veolia Voda has demonstrated its ability to enter the water sectors of post-Communist markets in central Europe, achieve significant improvements in operations and generate returns for the long term upgrading of the networks. Through its entry into Russia and Ukraine, the Company will be able to bring more reliable service, address issues of declining water quality and pollution due to poor treatment of waste and through better management, to mitigate the long run costs of maintaining their water and wastewater networks.    Veolia Voda is active on a regional scale in Eastern Europe and has a strong and stable base from which to enter higher growth markets.  In addition to providing investment, the Companys engagement in these regions is likely to facilitate improved technical, operational, managerial, environmental, and corporate governance standards in municipalities in less developed regions.  The target cities in Russia and the Ukraine lie outside the St. Petersburg- Moscow- Kiev axis and have had limited opportunities to benefit from direct foreign investment;  The close partnerships required with the municipalities will promote the development of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and contracting-out of services in other sectors.  This transaction therefore supports an important element of the World Bank Groups strategy for both Russia and Ukraine - investment through development of the PPP model.
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         The proposed Project consists of providing an IFC A Loan of up to EUR60 million and a parallel loan of up to EUR45 million, mobilized by IFC, to support the expansion of Hyprop Investments Limited (South Africa) and PDI Investments Limited (Mauritius), into Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) following their acquisition of three operating shopping malls in Belgrade, Serbia; Podgorica, Montenegro; and Skopje, FYR Macedonia.  
       
       
         The proposed investments shall be used to refinance existing debt of the mall entities and therefore provide a more sustainable capital structure, and to finance the upgrade and/or expansion of the malls. The malls are each owned by locally incorporated private companies that are 100% subsidiaries of Hystead Limited, UK ("Hystead" or the "Company). -	Improved overall standards and setting standards: The Project is also contributing to the overall improvement of quality standards in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia, through meeting IFC's E&S standards, including an international life and fire safety (LFS) standard and is expected to demonstrate and transfer knowledge on best practices to other operators in each market.

-	Green building certification: The malls will adopt international green building standards, which is expected to contribute to improvements in water and energy efficiency for the facilities in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia.

-	Skills Transfer: The Company will implement a training program through its management team, building on its existing operations and training program in South Africa, and by setting up cooperation with local educational institutions to support their newly developing CEE operations.
Private Enterprise Partnership - Phase 3 The IFC Private Enterprise Partnership (PEP) is the technical assistance (TA) facility for the former Soviet Union, specifically covering the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The creation of PEP was initially approved by the Board in May 2000 for a three year period (IFC/R2000-75 dated May 8, 2000) and extended in September 2002 (IFC/R2002-0191) for a further 3 years (FY04-FY06). This project represents an extension of the program for an additional five years (FY07-FY11), commencing July 1, 2006.
ESIP Kaymu Project Kaymu Eurasia is an Online Marketplace that enables businesses and consumers to offer their goods for sale online and end customers to research, compare prices and purchase online. This venture was initiated by Rocket Internet GmbH (RI), a global online venture builder. Kaymu Eurasia has identified IFC as a potential strategic partner in its endeavor to significantly expand its e-commerce footprint in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and has invited IFC to provide equity capital to support its growth (the Project). The Project''s expected development impacts include: (i) job creation in the areas of marketing and IT services and indirectly through supply chains, logistics, and other supporting services; (ii) transfer of technology by replicating proven internet business concepts in emerging markets with the goal of turning its ventures into local/regional market leading companies in the online retail space; and (iii) benefit to consumers in frontier regions and secondary cities through more choices, lower prices and convenient service with home delivery.
Euromedic International The project involves: (i) expansion of the existing network of Euromedic diagnostic imaging centers in Hungary; (ii) establishment of a network of diagnostic imaging centers in other CEE countries; and (iii) establishment of a network of hemodialysis centers in the region. Most centers are located in local hospitals and space is leased from the associated hospital.  Existing centers are certified to the ISO 9002 quality management system international standard, and new centers are in the process of becoming certified.  Each center has (or will have) established policies and procedures related to patient and employee health and safety and waste management.    Through the project, Euromedic is extending high quality private healthcare to large and diverse portions of local population thus improving both access to and equity of services. The diagnostic centers are expected to speed the delivery of high quality imaging that will enable faster and more accurate treatment of patients. Euromedic hemodialysis centers have the potential to save the lives of hundreds of patients who would die within weeks of developing end stage renal disease (ESRD) without access to treatment. In addition, by improving the quality of dialysis care, Euromedic will contribute to cost savings due to reduced annual hospitalization and shorter length of annual disability of ESRD patients.     IFC''s primary role will be to provide long-term financing, which is difficult to obtain on reasonable terms for healthcare projects in the countries of Euromedic''s operations. Although some local banks have shown interest in the health sector, their financing is generally limited to short-term loans or leasing.
Emerging Europe Growth Fund II LP Emerging Europe Growth Fund II (EEGF II or the Fund II) is a private equity fund that will invest in fast-growing mid-size private companies in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.  The Fund has a target size of $300 million.  First closing is expected by December 2007 and is estimated at $50 million.  Fund II will seek majority or influential minority stakes in a diversified portfolio of mid-cap private companies in the region, focusing on expansion and buyout opportunities in core industries serving the emerging middle class, including financial services, consumer goods, retail and industrial goods. - Private sector development:  The Fund will add value to its investee companies, by providing managerial and strategic support to improve their competitiveness and sustainability.  - Implementation of best practice for corporate governance in portfolio companies:  The Fund will adopt international best practices for corporate governance and management, as well as transparency, thus fostering knowledge and skill transfer, and encouraging best practices across the industry.  - Growth in employment and labor productivity:  The Fund is expected to invest in growth stage companies that will increase employment at a high growth rate.  - Support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs):  Some of the Funds investee companies are expected to be SMEs at the time of acquisition.