CDE
BIO has signed a collaboration agreement with the Centre for the Development of Entreprise (CDE).
CDE is an ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific)/EU joint Institution created in the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. CDE’s financial resources mainly come from the European Development Fund (EDF). Its objective is to ensure the development of professional ACP enterprises operating in the private sector.
The Center provides non-financial services to ACP companies and to joint initiatives of ACP and EU economic operators in various economic sectors, with the main aim to increase competitiveness of ACP enterprises.
CDE’s specific objectives are given as follows:
- facilitate ACP-EU business partnerships;
- develop enterprise support services in ACP (capacity building with private sector organisations and service providers);
- assist investment promotion activities and organisations;
- assist technology transfer and management skills
EDFI
Founded in 1992, EDFI (European Development Finance Institutions) is an association of 15 European bilateral Development Finance Institutions. Its mission is to foster cooperation among its members and to strengthen their relationship with the institutions of the European Union, principally with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The members of EDFI provide long-term financing for private sector enterprises in developing countries and emerging economies.
EDFI sets out to create synergies between the various institutions, to develop joint procedures and to pinpoint the investment opportunities that can lead to co-financing.
In 2004, ten members of the EDFI concluded a framework agreement with the EIB in order to create EFP (European Financing Partners), a European initiative based in Luxembourg. EFP today has funds amounting to € 175 million euros (€ 100 million euros from the EIB and € 75 million euros from contributing partners). These funds are used to finance SME projects in the ACP countries. EFP finances up to 75 % of a project submitted by an EDFI member. The remaining 25% is financed by the EDFI member presenting the proposal.
Via EFP, BIO has strengthened its partnerships with other Development Finance Institutions, in particular the EIB, and expanded its presence in Africa.
