The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, which includes the European Investment Bank (EIB) and its subsidiary, the European Investment Fund (EIF), provided Romania with financing worth EUR 1.31 billion in 2018 in the form of loans, guarantees, equity, and microfinance operations, Ziarul Financiar informed, quoting EIB officials attending a meeting in Bucharest with finance minister Eugen Teodorovici.

The Romanian minister expressed confidence that the cooperation will deepen.

“As we have said, 2019 must be a time of investing. In this regard, we invite the EIB Group to strengthen our partnership, a consistent and well-balanced financial support aimed at both the public and the private sector," Teodorovici said.

EIB signed new loan contracts worth EUR 981 million, while the EIF engaged EUR 329 million in three equity operations, 13 guarantees, and three microfinance operations. About 8,800 small and medium-sized businesses have benefited from these investments, businesses that support about 200,000 jobs.

"2018 was an excellent year for the EIB Group in Romania.[…] One of the innovative transactions this year, endorsed with the Investment Plan for Europe, was to provide a loan to entrepreneurial businesses (the first EIB loan of this kind in Europe). Furthermore, EIB is involved in providing consultancy for smooth implementation of the projects," EIB vice-president Andrew McDowell said.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Eib.org)