The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) promotes long-term, sustainable and broad-based economic growth in developing and emerging countries by providing financial support to commercially viable small, medium and fast-growing enterprises (SMEs) which in turn helps to create secure and permanent jobs and reduce poverty. SIFEM will invest in either local or regional risk capital funds, or make long-term capital available to local banks and other financial institutions. The investment companies and financial institutions will in turn support local SMEs and fast-growing companies with this capital. SIFEM also actively advises local investment companies, for example in formulating their investment strategies and in the actual investment process. SIFEM is the development finance institution of the Swiss Confederation and a cornerstone of Swiss development cooperation. The Swiss Confederation has a 100% shareholding in SIFEM.