IFC and Vista Group Partner to Expand Access to Finance for MSMEs and Support Job Creation in Guinea

Conakry, Guinea, March 27, 2026 - IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced a financing package for Vista Gui, the Guinean subsidiary of Vista Group Holding SA, to help boost private sector growth and job creation in the country.

The partnership will expand access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including women-owned and women-led businesses, in a high-potential market that remains underserved.

Through a $20 million senior loan, IFC will support Vista Gui in growing its MSME loan portfolio. At least 25 percent of the financing will be allocated to women-owned or led businesses, strengthening their financial inclusion and contribution to the economy.

The investment will support key sectors, including agricultural value chains and other productive industries, contributing to more inclusive and resilient growth. IFC's financing is supported by the IDA20 IFC-MIGA Private Sector Window (PSW) Blended Finance Facility under the MSME Finance Platform.

In Guinea, MSMEs are a major source of employment but face a significant financing gap estimated at 21.5 percent of GDP. This gap is even wider for women-owned or led businesses, which remain largely underserved.

"This partnership with Vista Group will help expand access to finance for small businesses while supporting women's entrepreneurship and agricultural value chains," said Nathalie Kouassi Akon, IFC's Division Director for West Africa, Gulf of Guinea. "It reflects our commitment to mobilizing innovative solutions to drive inclusive growth and job creation in West Africa."

"We are proud to strengthen our collaboration with IFC, which will enable us to scale up financing for MSMEs, a key driver of our economies," said Yao Kouassi, Managing Director of Vista Group Holding. "This partnership will support local entrepreneurship, particularly in strategic sectors such as agriculture and mining-related services."

This partnership is part of IFC's strategy to strengthen the role of the private sector in high-potential markets. It builds on a broader strategic collaboration between IFC and Vista Group Holding across its key banking subsidiaries, including in Burkina Faso and Guinea. Beyond financing, IFC will provide tailored advisory services to strengthen risk management, deepen financial inclusion, and support innovation.

The collaboration follows an earlier engagement in 2022 under IFC's Global Trade Finance Program, which mobilized up to $24 million to support trade finance in Burkina Faso and Guinea, helping SMEs access essential imports.

IFC is a long-standing partner in private sector development in both countries. It supports investments in key sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, agriculture and energy, with a particular focus on financial inclusion, local champions and job creation.