The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), as well as leading Japanese institutional investors, amongst others Sumitomo Life Insurance Company, have committed meaningful resources to the fund. The fund has been set up and is managed by Swiss based impact specialist BlueOrchard.

Poverty reduction with investments of USD 120million providing perpetual lending facilities.

The fund plans to invest USD120 Million (equivalent of JPY12b) to Microfinance institutions empowering hundreds of thousands of women in South East Asia. The lifetime of the fund has been set being 8 years. This unique fund, providing perpetual lending facilities to predominantly female micro and small entrepreneurs in ASEAN countries, will have a fundamental positive impact to society while reducing poverty.

Fund provides access to impact asset class to Japanese institutional investors.

The fund further marks an important milestone enabling Japanese institutional investors accessing the impact asset class, securing attractive and uncorrelated returns whilst allowing for direct social and environmental impact.

Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzō Abe “For promotion of economic integration and sustainable growth in ASEAN countries, it is important for people in each country to realize such benefits. The Japanese Government welcomes the launch of the Japan-ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund”.

Chairman BlueOrchard, Peter Fanconi, comments: “This fund testifies to the Japanese innovation capabilities and the potential of the economic development of the region. BlueOrchard is very proud and honored to have been appointed as fund manager of this unprecedented initiative.”

 

For further information, please contact:
Inès Mergny
Head of communications
BlueOrchard Finance Ltd
Seefeldstrasse 231 I 8008 Zürich I Switzerland
Tel. +41 44 441 55 50
Skype: ines.blueorchard
ines.mergny@blueorchard.com