Finnfund signs senior loan agreement with EVF to support women-led businesses and green transition in Vietnam
Finnfund has signed a senior loan agreement of USD 15 million with EVF General Finance JSC, a leading non-bank financial institution (NBFI) in Vietnam focused on lending to small and medium-sized enterprises.
EVF is one of Vietnam's leading non-bank financial institutions, providing financing solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises and corporate clients. The company has a growing focus on green lending and supports businesses across a wide range of sectors throughout the country. By expanding access to finance for underserved businesses, EVF contributes to financial inclusion and sustainable economic growth in Vietnam.
"We are delighted to support EVF, a strong partner for expanding access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam, particularly women-led businesses. At Finnfund, advancing gender equality is a key priority, and we are pleased that EVF qualifies as a 2X-compliant gender lens investment. Through this financing, we can support both financial inclusion and inclusive economic growth in Vietnam," says Antti Partanen, Investment Manager at Finnfund.
The USD 15 million senior loan supports EVF’s long-term funding base and its continued development as one of Vietnam's leading non-bank financial institutions. It also reflects the company's progress in strengthening its environmental and social management practices and expanding collaboration with international financial institutions.
"This partnership with Finnfund marks a significant milestone in EVF’s ongoing efforts to diversify and strengthen its long-term international funding base. Beyond the financing itself, we value Finnfund’s support in helping us embed international ESG and gender-lens standards into our operations, enhancing our ability to serve women-led and underserved SMEs across Vietnam. This is more than a financing transaction; it is a strategic partnership that supports our ambition to become a development-oriented financial institution capable of attracting international capital and delivering sustainable impact. We look forward to fostering this relationship as we grow our green lending portfolio and support Vietnam's transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy," says Dinh Ngoc Bao, Director of International Markets at EVF.
"Vietnam has set ambitious climate targets and will require significant investment to support its transition to a low-carbon economy. EVF has a growing green lending portfolio and is well positioned to finance businesses investing in renewable energy and energy-efficiency solutions. We believe the company can play an important role in channelling more financing towards sustainable growth in Vietnam," adds Partanen.
More information
Antti Partanen, Investment Manager, Finnfund, tel. +358 41 468 6333, antti.partanen@finnfund.fi
Dinh Ngoc Bao, Director of International Markets, EVF, tel. +84 966 386 666, baodn@evnfc.vn
Media contacts
Terhi Elomaa, Communications Manager, Finnfund, tel. +358 40 194 0281, terhi.elomaa@finnfund.fi
About EVF
EVF General Finance Joint Stock Company (EVF) is a leading non-bank financial institution in Vietnam, providing financing solutions to SMEs and corporate clients nationwide. Established in 2008, EVF is committed to delivering innovative and customer-centric financial services while advancing sustainable development. The company has a growing focus on green finance, financial inclusion and support for women-led businesses, helping drive sustainable economic growth and Vietnam’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
About Finnfund
Finnfund is a Finnish development financier and impact investor. Finnfund builds a sustainable future and generates lasting impact by investing in businesses that solve global development challenges with Finnish added value. Each year, we invest 200–250 million euros in 20–30 companies in developing countries. Our focus is particularly on digital infrastructure and solutions, clean energy, forestry, agriculture, and on providing funding for small and medium-sized enterprises through financial institutions. Today, Finnfund’s investments, commitments, and investment decisions total about 1.2 billion euros. The company has about 100 employees based in Helsinki and Nairobi.