All 21 NEFI members share a public mission to facilitate access to finance for SMEs by offering them financial services and expertise. NEFI members act complementary to and in cooperation with the national banking system through co-financing, risk-sharing and advisory services in order to address shortcomings in the SME financial markets. This mission was entrusted to them by their governments and/or the legislation in force in their respective countries. Among other, similar tasks have been assigned to the member institutions in the fields of environment and infrastructure.