IFC’s $56-Million Investment in Global IME Bank to Bolster Gender and Climate Financing in Nepal

To help increase access to finance for smaller businesses in Nepal, including women-owned firms, and foster climate-friendly projects, IFC is investing $56 million in Global IME Bank Limited (GIBL), the largest commercial bank in the country. The aim is to boost competitiveness in the small and medium enterprise (SME) finance market while also improving financial inclusion, creating jobs, and supporting the nation's climate goals. 

IFC's largest investment—as well as mobilization in Nepal's financial sector, will allow GIBL to support the SME segment, helping businesses recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially women-owned SMEs (WSMEs) and those in rural areas. IFC's funding will also contribute to climate mitigation efforts in Nepal by increasing access to climate finance across several areas, including clean transportation, climate-smart agriculture, and solar projects.