devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Ananta Apparels Limited Founded in 1992, Ananta Apparels Limited (AAL or the Company) is one of the leading apparel exporters of Bangladesh (top 10 position among woven product manufacturers). The Company specializes in denim products with monthly production capacity of 1.8 million woven bottoms across three factories comprising 850,000 square feet and employing about 13,000 workers. AAL recently re-structured into a group holding company with five manufacturing subsidiaries: Ananta Casualwear Limited (99% shareholding), Ananta Denim Technology Limited (99%), Ananta Fashion Limited (99%), DNV Clothing Limited (75%), and Universal Menswear Limited (51%; a joint-venture company with Romanian suit manufacturer Time Trade International).  Major customers include top retail brands such as H&M, GAP and Bestseller Group. AAL has undertaken an expansion plan to be developed in two phases:  Phase I, costing approximately US$24.4 million, will primarily involve the relocation of its existing casual woven bottoms factory to a new custom built facility in Kanchpur, south of Dhaka thereby replacing its original factory in downtown Dhaka (the Project). The Project is brownfield in nature. The second phase (Phase II), which would involve further capacity expansion, will be undertaken at a future date once Phase I is fully implemented and operational. - Job Creation: Approximately 1,500 new jobs expected over both Phases I and II.  - Technology Transfer: AAL intends to adopt global best practices in terms of lean manufacturing concepts, factory efficiency, worker productivity and energy efficiency standards of the overall industry. - Local Supply Chain Linkages: The Project will generate incremental business for MSMEs in the value chain, including accessory and package suppliers, service providers and logistics support. - Benefits to the Government: The Project will generate tax revenues, which is expected to contribute to Bangladesh''s Annual Development Program budget, enabling the Government to execute a greater number of developmental activities. - Demonstration Effect: The Project will support a Company that has committed to adopting best practices in corporate governance, E&S compliance, labor standards, and energy efficiency in Bangladesh''s RMG industry.
Grameen Phone II GrameenPhone Limited (GrameenPhone or the company) is an existing company, and is the leading cellular service provider in Bangladesh operating a nationwide, GSM, digital network with over one million subscribers, equivalent to a 70% market share.  In addition to providing prepaid and postpaid cellular phone services, the company also assists in a -Village Phone- service by being the sole provider of telecommunications services to the Village Phone operators.  The Village Phone service provides rural connectivity to approximately 30 million people.  IFC previously funded the companys initial network roll-out in 1999 by extending a financing package consisting of a senior loan of $16.7 million and a preferred share investment of $1.57 million for 3% of the company on a fully diluted basis.    The purpose of the project is to fund the expansion plans of the company.  Bangladesh continues to have one of the lowest telephone density rates in the world: the estimated telephone penetration rate (fixed line and cellular) is currently 1.5%.  This project will help increase access to modern and reliable telecommunications services by funding the companys expansion plans through to the end of 2004.
Working Capital Systemic Solutions - Southeast Bank 2 The project consists of providing a Short-Term Loan for the amount of up to US$30 million (for 12 months, renewable two times at IFCs option for an additional 24 months, for a maximum aggregate period of up to 36 months) to Southeast Bank Limited (the Bank or SEBL) to support the foreign currency needs of SMEs in Bangladesh. (i) Financial Market Deepening: Facilitating increased local bank access to the commercial loan market and also facilitating access to finance for credit constrained SMEs, especially to meet working capital requirements. (ii) Demonstration Effect: IFC''s proposed package signals its confidence in Bangladesh economy and also helps increase the Bank''s credibility in international credit markets helping continued growth of its trade financing operations. (iii) Job Creation: Bangladesh, an IDA country, still has nearly a third of its population below the poverty line in spite of improving macroeconomic fundamentals. IFC''s investment will further support business growth and spur indirect job creation in the SME and Export oriented segments. (iv) Boost Export Competitiveness: The Facility will help accelerate economic growth in Bangladesh by providing SMEs and exporters with trade finance solutions to their working capital requirements and assist in payments for imports utilized.
SEAF Bangladesh Ventures, LLC SEAF Bangladesh Ventures (the Fund) is one of the first of IFCs SME Ventures funds, a programmatic approach to create a new asset class by providing risk capital financing and complementary advisory services to small businesses in IDA countries.  The target size of the Fund is $20 million, including IFCs commitment of $12 million. In addition, IFC acting as Implementing Entity of the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) will invest up to US$10 million to support climate resilient investments.  The fund manager is a subsidiary of the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund (SEAF), a global investment management firm based in Washington that provides risk capital to SMEs in emerging markets.    Experience has shown that it is critical to the success of small business funds to provide business support services targeted at the funds SME investees.  In this project, IFC and other donors will set up separate facilities to provide the necessary support on a partially reimbursable basis. IFCs SME Ventures program focuses on high risk IDA countries where few other sources of financing for small business operate.  The program will directly build the local capacity of financial intermediaries to manage sustainable investment funds for small businesses, providing both risk capital and critical advisory assistance.
WCS Prime II 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 consists of a short-term loan (Working Capital Solutions, WCS) for up to $50 million to Prime Bank Limited (the Bank or Prime Bank) to support the foreign currency needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh. The financing provided is a fit with the World Bank and IFC strategy of promoting economic growth by providing access to finance to underserved market segments and promoting international trade, thereby leading to improved competitiveness, job retention and creation.         The Bank commenced operations on April 17, 1995 and has total assets of $3.3 billion as of December 31, 2016. i.\tImproved Access to Credit: The Project will increase access to finance for credit-constrained, export-oriented companies and SMEs to meet working capital requirements. It will also expand financial intermediation. IFC's investment will further support business growth and spur job creation in the SME and export-oriented segments.\r\rii.\tBoost Export Competitiveness: IFC's investment will help to accelerate economic growth in Bangladesh by providing SMEs and exporters with trade finance solutions to their working capital requirements, and help them pay for imports needed in the value chain.
WCSS BRAC II The Project consists of providing a 1 year short-term loan for the amount of up to US$40 million (for 12 months, renewable up to two times at IFCs option for an additional 24 months, for a maximum aggregate period of up to 36 months) to BRAC Bank Limited (the Bank or BRAC Bank) to support the foreign currency needs of SMEs in Bangladesh.  The financing provided is a fit with the World Bank and IFC strategy of promoting economic growth by providing access to finance to underserved market segments and promoting international trade, thereby leading to improved competitiveness, job retention and creation.   BRAC Bank was established in 2001 and has assets of US$2.38 billion as of 31st December 2013. Improved access to credit:  The Project will increase access to finance for credit constrained SMEs, especially to meet working capital requirements.  It will also expand financial intermediation.  Demonstration Effect:  IFC''s proposed package signals its confidence in the Bangladesh economy and also helps increase the Bank''s credibility in international credit markets, aiding continued growth of its trade financing operations.  Job Creation:  Bangladesh, an IDA country, still has nearly a third of its population below the poverty line in spite of improving macroeconomic fundamentals.  IFC''s investment will further support business growth and spur indirect job creation in the SME and export-oriented segments.  Boost Export Competitiveness:  The facility will help accelerate economic growth in Bangladesh by providing SMEs and exporters with trade finance solutions to their working capital requirements and assist in payments for imports utilized.
DCM-BRAC Bank Affordable Housing Bond The proposed IFC investment comprises of a subscription of up to US$50 million equivalent in Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) in an up to 5-year, fixed rate, senior, non-convertible, unsecured, privately placed debt instruments to be issued by BRAC Bank Limited (BRAC Bank, the Bank), the longest-standing IFC Financial Institutions Group client in Bangladesh. The proceeds will be used to provide housing finance facility, including affordable housing finance facilities to low and middle-income households. This is expected to be the first housing bond issued in Bangladesh.  The investment is expected to be supported by the International Development Associations Private Sector Window (IDA PSW) and Local Currency Facility (LCF).  BRAC Bank was established in 2001 and has a total asset of US$5.5 billion as of June 30, 2021. The Project is expected to contribute towards (i) increasing access to housing finance for urban households, with a focus on providing more access to housing finance to lower income households; and (ii) increasing the availability of longer-tenor housing finance in the market. At the market level, IFC will contribute via demonstration, replication and competition channels to: (i) integrating the housing finance sector with the local bond market and supporting the overall development of the corporate bond market; and (ii) fostering increased inclusiveness within the housing finance market by demonstrating the business case of moving down the market.
PRAN Project The project is defined as the corporate-wide expansion to increase production capacity across business lines to be undertaken by the PRAN during FY2009  2011.   PRAN is one of the leading branded food and beverage producers in Bangladesh. The company produces a wide range of products, which can be categorized into six broad categories:     - beverages;    - culinary products;    - confectionery;   - dairy;    - snacks; and    - premium rice.     Created in 1993, the company enjoys a very strong brand reputation in the country and it also exports to more than 70 countries. For the financial year ending 30 June, 2007, the company reported combined sales of $66.8 million and a net profit before minority interest of $4.2 million.   At present Pran borrows in the local market from both local and multinational banks. IFCs funding will support the long term tenor requirement and funding diversification effort of the company. The proposed corporate investment program will support the continued growth of a leading food company in Bangladesh to expand capacity, improve operating efficiencies and exploit domestic and export market opportunities. The companys growth has an extended reach on the local economy around production sites, with significant benefits for employment, farming, local SMEs as well as taxpayers.
InfraV-AK KhanWH The Project involves testing the viability of the Bangladesh market for community water systems (CWS) based on Ultra Violet (UV) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification technologies. Initially up to 50 units will be set up and operated as a pilot (the Pilot or the Project). Successful functioning of the Pilot will lead to scaling up of the business model to several hundred units over the next 4-5 years. The business concept involves setting up modular CWS across different clusters of villages in Bangladesh. The modular CWSs will tap raw water from nearby river, ponds or underground resources. Purified water will be sold at the CWS directly to rural consumers. The water purification equipment for the Pilot phase will be procured from WaterHealth International India. There will be direct beneficial impact on quality of life and health.  Employment generation by engaging people from villages for operating community water systems and revenue collections  Environmental benefits - the adoption of WHI''s systems will help minimize the use of chemicals with toxic by-products used in alternative water purification methods like chlorination.   The distributed water model also assists in minimizing water losses by supplying water at the retail level thereby avoiding supply leakage losses.
Esquire Knit Composite Limited 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0.0000          Esquire Knit Composite Limited (the Company or EKCL), an existing IFC AS client and one of Bangladeshs integrated knitted apparels manufacturer and exporter, has approached IFC to finance the expansion of its   ready made   garments (RMG) cutting and sewing operations (the Project). The Project involves setting up a new cutting and sewing factory in   Bhaluka  , Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The new facility, to be housed in a green building, will comprise 102 sewing lines, seamless garment knitting, molded bra cup technology and automatic cutting and sewing for production of active wear and lingerie. The proposed Project will increase EKCLs cutting and sewing capacity by 31.8 million pieces per year, which will be fully exported to major global retailers. Stakeholder's impacts:
i.	Employment growth: The Project will create 5,500 additional jobs, mostly for women. Additionally, the number of temporary workers required for the construction at its peak is 300.
ii.	Employee skills/know-how: The Project is going to attract skilled recruits and further develop their skill sets through various training program required by the new technologies and product range, and thus adding to the skilled workers base in Bangladesh. 
iii.	Effect on emissions and waste generation: EKCL's new factory will be a LEED certified green factory. Supported by IFC's Advisory Program Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT), the factory will focus on water, wastewater, and chemicals conservation and energy efficiency. 
Market impact: 
i.	Contribution to Market Creation: The Project, along with IFC's advisory services engagements in Bangladesh, has the potential to promote greater market sustainability and integration in the RMG sector in Bangladesh. 
ii.	Impact on market emissions and waste generation: The project, along with IFC's advisory services engagements in Bangladesh, will help foster adoption of environmental and social sustainability principles by firms and consumers across the sector through direct capacity building channels and demonstration effects as a result of EKCL's success. 
iii.	Increasing manufacturing complexity: The Project is expected to upgrade the company to a more value adding level, involving advanced products, innovative product development, automated production technology and up-grading of professional skills of the personnel. It could potentially be the model that other factories will follow as Bangladesh is climbing up to higher value garment products.
WCSS Eastern II The Project consists of providing a 1 year short-term loan for the amount of up to US$30 million (for 12 months, renewable up to two times at IFCs option for an additional 24 months, for a maximum aggregate period of up to 36 months) to Eastern Bank Limited (the Bank or Eastern Bank) to support the foreign currency needs of SMEs in Bangladesh.  The financing provided is a fit with the World Bank and IFC strategy of promoting economic growth by providing access to finance to underserved market segments and promoting international trade, thereby leading to improved competitiveness, job retention and creation.   The Bank commenced operations from 16 August 1992 with 4 branches and has total assets of US$2.03 billion as of 31st December 2013. Improved access to credit:  The Project will increase access to finance for credit constrained SMEs, especially to meet working capital requirements.  It will also expand financial intermediation.  Demonstration Effect:  IFC''s proposed package signals its confidence in the Bangladesh economy and also helps increase the Bank''s credibility in international credit markets, aiding continued growth of its trade financing operations.  Job Creation:  Bangladesh, an IDA country, still has nearly a third of its population below the poverty line in spite of improving macroeconomic fundamentals.  IFC''s investment will further support business growth and spur indirect job creation in the SME and export-oriented segments.  Boost Export Competitiveness:  The facility will help accelerate economic growth in Bangladesh by providing SMEs and exporters with trade finance solutions to their working capital requirements and assist in payments for imports utilized.
PRAN Agro Business Ltd 0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0.0000       The group of companies known as PRAN Group (PRAN or the Group) was established in 1981 and is the leading branded food and beverage group and the largest agro-processor in Bangladesh. The Group is a well-known household brand in Bangladesh, and produces more than 400 food products in at least 10 major categories including juices and drinks, snacks, dairy, spices, confectionary and frozen foods. PRAN exports to 134 countries around the world.     PRAN   is planning   (i) a   capacity expansion of several of its existing food products (fruit juices, biscuits, noodles, and spices) through a US$65 million capital expenditure investment at P  RAN   A  gro   B  usiness   L  imited (PABL)   as well as (ii)   a   refinancing   of   short term working capital facilities at   PRAN Agro Limited (PAL)   and   Natore Agro Limited (N  AL  )   of BDT1,600 million (up to US$20 million) for a total project cost of approximately   US$85 million (the Project).     The capacity expansion will be undertaken at PABL, an entity of the PRAN Group  , at two sites in   Natore and Rajshahi.  The expansion will include the following components:    (i)                setting up an aseptic pulping facility in   Rajshahi   for increasing fruit-based beverage capacity;    (ii)                increasing production capacity of spice products;    (iii)                expansion of noodle-making capacity and backward integration into flour milling;    (iv)                developing a distribution channel of 1,500 distributors;     (v)                modernizing existing operations. (1) Greater farmer reach: The project is expected to help PRAN increase its farmer network by procuring raw materials from an incremental 10,000 farmers, thus contributing to market creation for these farmers.

(2) Increased job creation and MSME improvement: The project is expected to create approximately 650 incremental direct jobs and 4,000 indirect jobs, including sizeable female employment (around 60% of PRAN's workforce is female). In addition, the project is expected to create additional indirect employment in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) along the value chain. 

(3) Setting food safety standards and local demonstration effect: By increasing the availability of hygienically-packaged food, the project would help to set higher standards on food safety in the country for other players, including a large base of farmers. 

(4) Extension services: The project is expected to support climate smart agriculture through implementation of good agricultural practices (GAP) for incremental farmers in its supply chain for key crops such as mango, tomatoes, turmeric and cassava.
BRAC Women Banking 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 $50 Mn project is to initiate the Banking on Women (BOW) program in Bangladesh with the association of BRAC Bank Ltd. (BRAC Bank or the Bank), which is a SME focused bank in    Bangladesh. This project is a strong fit to IFCs Bangladesh strategic pillar of Inclusion and Gender. It is also the first such project in Bangladesh. Banking on Women program will respond to the large unmet demand for financial services for women in Bangladesh, particularly women-owned SMEs.           BRAC Bank was founded in 2001 and is the second largest private lender in the SME segment in Bangladesh. The bank has total assets of USD 3.4 Bn as on December 31, 2016. -	Access to Finance for Women-owned SMEs: The Project is expected to have a considerable impact by increasing access to financial inclusion for women-owned SMEs in Bangladesh, thereby increasing opportunities for women entrepreneurs and improve livelihoods for a wide cross-section of society.
- Job preservation and creation of new jobs: The MSME segment plays a key role in Bangladesh's economy contributing to economic growth and employment. Particularly women entrepreneurs face constraints in accessing credit, inhibiting employment generating growth. Through removing these financial barriers, inclusive growth can be extended within typical women dominated segments, creating more female employment. In addition, women employment is more likely to generate positive externalities as they are more inclined to invest profits in the health and education of their families.
- Demonstration effect: Women-owned businesses are less likely to be banked because they tend to be smaller and less formal. The socio-cultural environment where men are still regarded as the heads of the household owning land and property of the family makes it difficult for women to present assets as collateral to access finance. While banks perceive women-owned businesses to be higher risk, they often do not recognize the economic and social benefit of banking women-owned businesses, who tend to be more loyal customers, less price sensitive and more risk averse. Through IFC's gender specific investment, which will be the first one of its kind in Bangladesh, BRAC Bank and IFC can create a positive demonstration effect, encouraging other Financial Institutions to follow.