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 Mauritania

Orabank Mauritania

Debt Financing in 2016
Orabank Mauritania (formerly BACIM Bank) was set up at the end of 2001 with share capital of 1,000,000,000 ouguiya. Since its acquisition by ECP group this capital has increased continuously, reaching 6,921,350,000 ouguiya in 2012. The bank was recapitalised following the takeover and was renamed 'Orabank Mauritania' on 30 September 2012. 97% of the bank’s share capital is held by ECP and Oragroup SA. Orabank Mauritania has 97 employees and six branches, including three in the capital Nouakchott, one in Nouadhibou (the country’s economic capital), one in Kiffa and one in Néma in the east of the country. Orabank Mauritania is a commercial bank with a customer base made up largely of individuals, self-employed professionals, SMEs, big businesses and local authorities. Thanks to its many banking products, Orabank Mauritania can offer a range of services that have helped it both to retain existing customers and to develop and diversify its customer base. The quality of these services means that the bank can now look to the future with greater confidence.

Oragroup

Venture Round in 2011
Oragroup SA is a banking institution that provides a range of personal and business banking services across West and Central Africa. Established in 1988 and headquartered in Lomé, Togo, the company operates under the brand Orabank and has a network of 149 branches in 12 countries, including Benin, Gabon, Guinea, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. Oragroup's offerings encompass various financial products, such as savings accounts, term deposits, operating and investment loans, employee loans, money transfer services, foreign currency exchange, and digital banking solutions. Additionally, the bank provides payment services and bancassurance products, catering to both individual and corporate clients.
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