📈 Swedfund Invests US$ 15 Mn in CDB to Boost Sri Lankan MSMEs and Job Creation

Swedfund, the Swedish Development Finance Institution, has invested US$ 15 million in Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) to expand access to long-term financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Sri Lanka. • Overall Funding: A US$ 15 million capital injection aimed at addressing the severe constraints on long-term capital resulting from Sri Lanka's recent economic challenges. • Target Sector: MSMEs, which account for a significant share of national employment and economic activity but heavily lack formal financing, especially in rural areas. • Women's Economic Empowerment: 30% of the total financing is strictly dedicated to supporting women-owned or women-led businesses. The investment aligns with the global 2X Challenge criteria. • Strategic Impact: Beyond capital, the partnership will help CDB strengthen its environmental and social risk management systems alongside expanding its climate-related lending practices.