OeEB significantly increases new business in 2022 and thus makes an important contribution to climate protection

— Support for micro, small and medium-sized businesses also still in focus — Total portfolio reaches a new high of EUR 1.62 billion

Vienna (OTS) – In 2022, Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB) provided around EUR 304 million in new loans and equity investments on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF). Business volume increased significantly, particularly in the area of climate protection, which is firmly anchored in the strategy as a cross-sectional goal. OeEB is thus still one of the largest international climate financiers in Austria.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of the war in Ukraine and the high inflation pose major challenges, especially for developing and emerging countries, and in some cases significantly limit their financial leeway. In addition, the consequences of climate change are increasing the pressure to adapt economic structures more quickly to the changing framework conditions. According to the European earth observation program Copernicus, the year 2022 was the warmest year ever for a quarter of humanity and the fifth warmest in the world since records began.

“In the face of these challenges and crises, development banks like OeEB have an important role to play in providing much-needed capital for economically viable projects. In 2022, we were able to further expand our commitment to combating the climate crisis: From wind energy and energy efficiency measures in Serbia, to green loans for SMEs in Ecuador, to the first fully electric bus fleet for local public transport in Vietnam – with our financing, we enable investments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a positive contribution to the climate,” emphasizes Sabine Gaber, member of the OeEB Executive Board.

Mobilizing the private sector

Against the background outlined above, it is more important than ever to mobilize funds from the private sector in order to implement the United Nations Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Gutmann OeEB Impact Fund, which was jointly initiated by OeEB and Bank Gutmann at the end of 2019, successfully completed the capital raising phase in April last year and reached its final closing with EUR 72 million. Within the term, ten investments are to be made in target funds, which in turn invest directly in small and medium-sized companies in the private sector or financial institutions.

Board member Michael Wancata: “With the Gutmann OeEB Impact Fund, we give private investors the opportunity to invest their capital profitably and meaningfully. The overarching goal is to improve the living conditions of people in developing and emerging countries. In particular, the fund contributes to the creation of good and fair employment, the increase of local income and the development of markets and sectors. By the end of 2022, more than 4.5 million previously underserved private customers had access to financial services. And by 2025, more than 230,000 new local jobs should be created through the investments of the target funds.”

Strong commitment in Africa

In its strategy, OeEB has set itself the goal of expanding its activities in Africa and the world’s least developed countries. In December 2018, the African-Austrian SME Investment Facility (AAIF) was launched to support companies from Austria or the European Union in setting up companies or developing projects in Africa. Due to the previous success of the instrument and the great interest on the part of Austrian companies, the BMF and OeEB extended the investment facility by a further three years in January 2023 and increased it by 20 million euros.

Results at a glance

In the past financial year, OeEB generated a net income of EUR 3.65 million (2021: EUR 5 million). The operating result was EUR 6.7 million (2021: EUR 7 million). With new business of around EUR 304 million (investment financing and participations), the total portfolio of loans and participations amounted to EUR 1.62 billion at the end of the year. OeEB provided EUR 0.82 million for project-related measures to increase developmental effects. These projects were again financed entirely from our own funds.

OeEB’s annual report is available online at

About Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB)

Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB) has been the development bank of the Republic of Austria since 2008 and is wholly owned by Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG. As a specialist institute, it finances private investment projects in developing and emerging countries, which must make sense both economically and in terms of development policy. During the project, programs are supported with which additional development effects can be achieved. www.oe-eb.at.