The Loan Agreements for World Bank (IBRD) assistance of US$ 500 million to Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for MSME Growth Innovation and Inclusive Finance Project was signed here today between Government of India and the World Bank.

 The Guarantee Agreement was signed by Mr. Tarun Bajaj, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director (India) of World Bank on behalf of the World Bank. The Loan Agreement was signed by Mr. Kshatrapati Shivaji, CMD, SIDBI and Mr. Onno Ruhl, Country Director (India) of World Bank on behalf of the World Bank. Representative(s) from Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and officials from the World Bank, among others, were present.

 The Objective of the project is to improve access to finance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in manufacturing and service sectors from early to growth stage, including through innovative financial products. The project also aims to support growth and employment creation through unlocking opportunities for firm growth that the financing would provide.

 Funded MSMEs will be the primary beneficiaries. MSMEs for the purpose of this project will be firms that are considered as MSMEs under the MSME Act. The project specifically benefits SIDBI by enhancing its financial and institutional capacity in the areas of early stage, service and manufacturing sector financing, and also supports other Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs).

 The project will have three components which are: (i) Spurring Early Stage and Risk Capital Finance, (ii) Supporting service sector financing models and (iii) Supporting finance to manufacturing MSMEs.

 It is a loan with an implementation period of 5 years. Small Industries Development Bank of India is the implementing agency.

International loan financing for MSME development enables SIDBI to expand early stage, service and manufacturing finance over a five year implementation. A multilateral loan and guarantee arrangement channels World Bank financing to SIDBI to improve access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across early to growth stages in manufacturing and services. The project consists of three components-early-stage and risk capital finance, service-sector financing models, and manufacturing MSME finance-supports Participating Financial Institutions, enhances SIDBI's institutional capacity, and has a five-year implementation period with SIDBI as implementing agency.