The European Investment Bank (EIB) and finance&invest.brussels, a regional institution serving the Brussels Capital Region, have joined forces to boost small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) lending. A €50m ($57.6) loan agreement has been signed between the two entities, enabling finance&invest.brussels to provide up to €140m in new loans to local SMEs and mid-caps on more favorable terms.
This partnership aims to make it easier for entrepreneurs to secure funding for business expansion and employment creation by lowering collateral demands and enhancing lending conditions. finance&invest.brussels will retain responsibility for all lending decisions, focusing resources on sectors such as financial and legal technology, urban agriculture, creative industries, and sustainable food production.
Established in 1984 as a public limited company, finance&invest.brussels offers loans, capital, and guarantees to address critical financial needs at different stages for start-ups, SMEs, scale-ups, social entities, and cooperatives. CEO Pierre Hermant expressed the institution’s commitment to supporting SMEs in the Capital Region and emphasized the importance of facilitating access to financing to strengthen the region’s economic dynamism and attractiveness.
This collaboration builds upon previous partnerships between finance&invest.brussels and the European Investment Fund, which operates within the EIB Group. Guarantee agreements with the Fund in 2021 and 2023 contributed €54m and €78m, respectively, to support local SMEs and mid-caps.
In a recent development, the EIB and European Commission announced a €400m facility agreement with the Palestine Monetary Authority at the UN General Assembly in New York. This agreement, approved by the EIB Board in July, aims to support the Palestinian private sector.
“EIB and finance&invest.brussels sign loan agreement to boost SME lending” was originally reported by Leasing Life, a GlobalData owned brand. The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as advice. It is recommended to seek professional or specialist advice before making any financial decisions based on the content.
