Robert de Groot

KBC and the European Investment Bank continue their longstanding partnership with a new loan facility aimed at improving access to finance and supporting sustainability investments by small and medium-sized Belgian businesses. Through a €300 million EIB loan, which KBC will match with its own funds, €600 million in additional lending will become available for Belgian SMEs seeking to make their activities more environmentally sustainable. The €600 million facility comes on top of KBC’s regular business for Belgian companies and the final decision on loans awarded under this facility rests with KBC.

To spur growth, employment, and the green transition, the European Union has provided a €160 million financial package to support Serbian businesses. This initiative, which was announced today at a ceremony in Belgrade, is the result of a partnership between EIB Global of the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Banca Intesa and Intesa Leasing, as part of a wider collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, a banking group leading in Europe. The funds will be available at favourable terms to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps in order to address their working capital and investment needs, as well as to boost green investments in renewable energy, clean transportation and energy efficiency projects. This support will benefit around 240 companies and protect around 25 000 jobs, thus driving climate resilience and competitiveness in the local economy.

The European Investment Bank will support De Watergroep in rehabilitating and expanding its network of water supply infrastructure. Watergroep signed a €200 million loan today, as a first part of a €350 million lending availability for the coming five years. The EIB loan will fund nearly half of de Watergroep’s 2023-2028 investment programme, which focuses on renewing old pipes to minimise leakages, and extending the network by some 800 kilometres to serve new clients. The rehabilitation of the drinking water network will also allow Watergroep to better adapt to climate change risks such as more frequent and longer dry periods.