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.