FIE is a Fondo Financiero Privado (FFP, the legal entity under which micro-financiers operate and are regulated as non-bank financial institutions in Bolivia). The purpose of the credit line would be to allow FIE to increase its lending activity, i.e., upgrading and diversifying from its expertise in microfinance. FIE lends to both micro and small businesses, but would like to increase its lending to small businesses. The developmental impact of FIE is expected to be far reaching in terms of its economic support for productive small businesses, stimulus for growth and employment generation and confidence building for the banking sector. There are about 600,000 small and micro entrepreneurs in Bolivia and the sector represents 20-25% of Bolivian GDP. This project is expected to reach an estimated 700 new small businesses and micro entrepreneurs during the tenor of the credit line. IFC's involvement would provide financial resources to micro and small entrepreneurs and support the strengthening of the Bolivian financial sector.