• Capacity Development Provider

Mekong Business Initiative (MBI)

Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) is an advisory and advocacy facility which promotes private sector development (PSD) in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) region, with a focus on Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV). It is an advisory facility financed jointly by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), for a total of $10.5 million. Agricultural Value Chain Finance in Myanmar In 2016, with MBI support, two pilot agricultural lending products were designed in collaboration with Yoma Bank staff in Myanmar to improve the efficiency and profitability of crop value chains. One product will finance "apex" farmers who on-lend to numerous nearby small holders so that they can buy inputs such as seed. The other product provides revolving working capital for crop dealers, who often own large warehouses.

  • Stages of Support

    • Idea
    • Start-up
    • Early
    • Growth
    • Mature

  • Intervention Type

    • Provide financial support to intermediaries
    • Conduct research on the sector

  • Sectors of Focus

    • Agriculture & Food
    • Financial services

  • Impact objectives

    • Agricultural productivity
    • Access to financial services

  • Verticals

    • AgTech
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