On 25 June 2008, the OeEB finalised its first financing project by investing 33 million euros in EFSE.
Pushing the committed funding base of EFSE beyond 600 million euros, the OeEB's investment increases EFSE’s available funds for refinancing qualified partner lending institutions and enables the Fund to refinance additional 16,000 loans to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and low-income households in Southeast Europe over the next five years. Since its inception, EFSE has refinanced 97,000 loans to MSEs and low-income households. Until 2012, EFSE is expected to refinance more than 405,000 MSE and private household loans.
EFSE Development Facility
In addition to the 33 mio. euro investment, OeEB is making a 200,000 euro grant contribution to the EFSE Development Facility, a trust fund complementing EFSE’s financial investments with technical assistance, consulting and training. OeEB is also leveraging the existing EFSE C-Shares of the Austrian Development Cooperation (OEZA).