BIO enjoys decisional and operational independence, which provides the autonomy and flexibility it needs when analysing and evaluating the financing applications. BIO operates according to a commercial logic inherent to its status and its development finance mission.
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Enterprises, financial sector and infrastructure
BIO's strategy is three-fold: it aims at Entreprises, Financial Institutions/Investment Funds and private infrastructure projects.
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Financial viability and impact on development
All projects must demonstrate long term financial viability and have a lasting impact on the development of the country in question, whether in terms of employment, environment or economic and social growth. BIO also sets out to provide added value, in particular by contributing to good governance, by backing pioneering concepts and/or new initiatives or by attracting other investors.
BIO is operational in the 109 countries classified by the OECD as “Least Developed Countries”, “Low Income Countries” and “Lower-middle Income Countries”, also known as the DAC-list*, with a special emphasis on the partner countries of the Belgian Development Cooperation and on less developed countries.
BIO invests in all sectors of activity, with the exception of those named in the exclusion list of the International Finance Corporation or IFC. Its operations focus more specifically on the following sectors:
The financial contributions made by BIO are not tied to the involvement of other Belgian players of any type (companies, banks, etc.)
BIO is careful to ensure the additionality of its investments to avoid entering into direct competition with the local established financial sector.
* For full list, see right column