Up to US$3 Million Loan | 4% interest rate | Up to 15 Years Repayment
NEW: Personal contribution is now reduced to 10%
The Blue Investment Fund: your capital partner for investing in sustainable fishery value chains
The Blue Investment Fund (BIF) is a loan scheme developed specifically to support the expansion of sustainable fishery value chains in Seychelles. We offer up to US$ 3 million (in SCR equivalent) at an affordable 4% interest rate to help you scale up your business for a greater impact.
Whether your business produces seafood goods, offers logistics and scientific services, or helps local fish producers to access international markets, the BIF can offer you financial leverage to see your business thrive. To maintain its environmental integrity, currently, the BIF focused on the value chains of managed pelagic fisheries (tuna, billfish) and does not cover demersal fish.
The BIF is capitalized with the proceeds from the world’s first Sovereign Blue Bond. Together with the Blue Grants Fund (managed by Seychelles Conservation and Climate Adaptation Trust, SeyCCAT), the BIF is a part of the Blue Finance approach of the government to streamline innovative capital to building a resilient blue economy in Seychelles.
Send us an email at cr@dbs.sc or get in touch with one of our officers
BIF Loan Details
|
Amount |
Min SCR equivalent of US$10,000 - maximum US$3 million; |
|
Interest rate |
4% fixed rate |
|
Repayment time |
Up to 15 years |
|
Financing coverage |
Up to 90% of the project cost (10% of the project cost to be contributed by the applicant as co-financing) |
|
Required documents |
BIF Loan application, business plan, supporting documentation BIF is accepting lease as a collateral at a rate 1:1.25 |
Who can apply
Seychellois individuals
Locally registered civil society organizations
Locally registered, Seychellois-majority owned firms:
- Small and medium-sized fisheries enterprises
- Larger public-private partnerships
- Local-foreign Joint Ventures (Local Partner should be the majority shareholder)
Eligible activities
|
Type |
Code |
Eligible activities |
|
Scientific services |
AA
AB |
Business enterprises that provide scientific support to the fisheries sector including services related to fisheries research, management planning and fisheries monitoring (including vessel monitoring systems) Businesses that provide food technology and laboratory analytical services for seafood product research, development and labelling. |
|
Logistical services |
AC
AD AE AF |
Businesses that provide offloading, storage and delivery services to improve cold chain management including cargo handling services Enterprises that provide sorting and refreezing facilities as an ancillary service to processors and exporters of bycatch Enterprises that provide fleet and crew management services Business enterprises that provide packaging, distribution, marketing and sales services |
|
Processing |
AG
AH AI |
Businesses developing new facilities or rehabilitating existing facilities, that are engaged in primary or secondary fish processing for eligible value chains Enterprises investing in processes and technology to improve waste and energy efficiency Existing businesses that plan to upgrade existing processing facilities for HACCP or EU certification to improve market options |
|
Market access |
AJ
AK AL |
Industry-led investments in fishery improvement projects and assessment for internationally recognised certification schemes (e.g. Marine Stewardship Council) Enterprises providing services in market research, brand building, strategy development and sector intelligence Specialised technologies for accessing markets such as electronic sales and auction platforms |
Eligible value chains
VC 1 - Purse seine tuna fishery bycatch: whole frozen exports, value-added beneficiated products (e.g. burgers), dried products, mixed products
VC 2 - Tuna loins frozen: tuna purchased for loining and marketing, or tuna loining services
VC 3 - Tuna headed and gutted fresh product
VC 4 - Billfish value-added product
VC 5 - Longline tuna fishery bycatch
Currently, the Blue Investment Fund support value chains of pelagic fisheries; value chains of demersal fisheries are not covered
How to Apply
(send us an email at cr@dbs.sc or get in touch with one of our officers)
1. Read the current eligible activities instructions and identify the eligible activity that characterizes your proposed project
2. Consult the list of exclusions
3. Find detailed information on each step of the application process in the Loan Application Manual
4. Download the Loan application forms:
5. Fill out the Business Plan template:
6. Please use our Checklist to make sure you have all your documents (incomplete forms will not be accepted).
7. Use our Environmental and Social Management Framework, as Amended and Process Framework in preparing your application.
SWIOFish3 Grievance Redress Mechanism
Complaint resolution system for the SWIOFish3 project and project activities financed through the BIF disbursed by DBS and BGF disbursed by SeyCCAT.
Submit a complaint (link to https://grm.swiofish3.sc/)
For more information, please visit www.swiofish3.sc/grm
Download the brochure: English or Creole