Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries

The Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO) is an economic development agency located in Brussels, Belgium, founded in 2001. Its primary goal is to foster a robust private sector in developing and emerging countries, facilitating access to sustainable growth and development. BIO directly invests in private sector projects, contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the host countries. The agency's mandate emphasizes specific geographical targets, diverse financing tools, and a strong focus on the impact of its investments on development, aligning with international development goals. The management of BIO's assets is overseen by its executive management team, ensuring that its initiatives effectively support sustainable economic progress in the regions it serves.

Carole Maman

Chief Investment Officer

Past deals in Francophone Africa

Compagnie Africaine de Crédit

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Compagnie Africaine de Crédit is a pan-African microfinance group focusing on income-generating loans and guarantees to unbanked MSMEs.

AgroServ Industry

Non Equity Assistance in 2022
Agroserv Industrie SA is a specialized agro-processing company based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, focused on the production of corn flour and related products. Established in 2008, the company processes 100 tonnes of maize daily, producing a variety of items including corn flour, corn grits, cornmeal, and corn bran. These products are packaged in various sizes, including 5, 15, 20, and 25 kg bags, catering to both human consumption and animal nutrition. Agroserv's offerings include fortified semolina for consumers and corn bran used in livestock and poultry feed, which contributes to unique flavors in the final products. The company aims to meet the demands of the maize sector within Burkina Faso.

Cofina Mali

Debt Financing in 2021
Cofina Mali is a microfinance group that focuses on supporting the growth of informal micro-enterprises in the region. As part of the broader Groupe COFINA, which was established in 2013, it operates in six French-speaking African countries, including Mali. The institution is dedicated to mesofinance and aims to enhance financial inclusion while promoting the formalization of the African business market. By investing in the dynamic private sector, Cofina Mali plays a crucial role in providing financial services that cater to the needs of small businesses, thereby contributing to the economic development of the area.

AviNiger

Debt Financing in 2020
AviNiger is a greenfield poultry project with a focus on producing eggs.

Acep Burkina

Debt Financing in 2016
ACEP Burkina is a MFI specialized in the financing of micro companies and very small enterprises existing in towns and close suburbs. Granted credits are mainly used to finance required working capital and investments. I&P and ACEP International which are old partners have decided to partner in 2008 to try to start a microfinance institution like ACEP in the country. In spite of a preexisting important mutual fund present in town zone, small entrepreneurs remain hardly linked to microfinance. Besides, it does not exist for the moment in Burkina Faso, a microfinance institution specialized in individual credit with an effective and appropriate technique of credit risk analysis towards very small companies. Financings trough subventions have been secured from the French Agency of Development then an agreement has been obtained from the ministry of finances in June 2012. The microfinance institution has started its activities in October 2012.

Alios Finance Group

Debt Financing in 2015
Alios Finance Group is a prominent financial services provider based in South Africa, specializing in personal and investment financing solutions. The company offers a range of services, including leasing, investment credit, long-term rental, consumer credit, personal loans, hire purchase, and equipment credit. Operating in nine Sub-Saharan countries—Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia—Alios Finance Group also has a presence in North Africa through its main shareholder, Tunisie Leasing Group. The firm focuses on delivering specialized financial solutions tailored to the needs of professionals and individuals across the African continent.

Azito Energie

Debt Financing in 2012
Azito Energie S.A., founded in 1997 and based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, specializes in the development, ownership, and operation of a natural gas power plant. This facility utilizes indigenous natural gas resources, contributing to energy independence in Ivory Coast and positioning the country as a significant electricity supplier in West Africa. As of November 2010, Azito Energie operates as a subsidiary of Globeleq Generation Limited, further enhancing its capacity to deliver reliable energy solutions in the region.
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