· Operation to support economic growth and create new opportunities for small businesses in Romanian · Out of the €50 million loan agreed, a €10 million envelope is earmarked for green investments The European Investment Bank (EIB) and BRD Sogelease IFN SA have signed a €50 million loan agreement, extending their support to Romanian businesses and the country’s economy. The collaboration aims to create new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and midcaps, as well as to contribute to overall sustainable growth. The operation is an intermediated loan, meaning that BRD Sogelease will use EIB’s financing to facilitate new lending on more favorable terms for eligible clients. It is part of a larger approved operation that will provide favourable financing to small and medium businesses, and is reflecting the EIB's commitment to environmental sustainability, as 20% of the amount agreed is earmarked for green investment. Under the Green Gateway programme, the EIB Advisory will also be providing support to help originate and assess green investments. This will be facilitated through training on the use of the Green Eligibility Checker, a specially designed EIB tool for sustainable investment assessment. EIB advisory will also support BRD Sogelease staff to deepen their understanding of the EU’s regulatory framework for sustainable finance, EU Taxonomy and climate risk management. Kyriacos Kakouris, the EIB Vice-President, said: “With this credit line we reaffirm the EIB's commitment to sustainable projects in Romania, especially helping SMEs and midcap companies access long-term financing to be provided on favourable terms. I am confident that our related advisory will also help BRD Sogelease support the greening of Romanian businesses and thereby make the most of EIB lending." Frédéric Banco, CEO of BRD Sogelease IFN SA, added: "This collaboration represents a milestone for our clients, facilitating access to much-needed financing for the SMEs and midcaps’ projects." Background information The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. The EIB has worked in Romania since the early 1990s, improving regional cohesion, infrastructure and healthcare services, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, through 180 projects worth €17.78 billion. Romania is the largest beneficiary of EIB advisory support, with a wide range of services tailored to the needs of public and private clients across various sectors including road safety, education, health, climate action, decarbonisation, and the digital transition. About the Green Gateway programme Funded by the InvestEU Advisory Hub, the Green Gateway advisory program was established by the EIB to assist financial institutions in facilitating loans for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and environmental sustainability projects supported by EIBG financing. The Green Gateway advisory program proposes two areas of intervention: a web platform, and a bilateral advisory program. The online platform offers a green eligibility-check tool, called the Green Checker, and an e-library with guidelines and case studies on green investment criteria. About BRD Sogelease IFN SA BRD Sogelease IFN SA is the leasing subsidiary of BRD - Groupe Société Générale, the third largest commercial bank in Romania with total assets exceeding €15.5 billion, part of the Société Générale Group. BRD Sogelease is affiliated to the European network of Societe Generale Equipment Finance, the number one leasing group in Europe, with over €24 billion outstandings.
The famous show "Ovo" ("egg" in Portuguese), created in 2009 by Cirque du Soleil, is scheduled for April 23–26, 2026, at BT Arena in Cluj-Napoca. So far, the classic Cirque du Soleil show has delighted over 7 million spectators in 40 different countries. Despite its age, it has been reimaged, with a new set, acrobatic […]
The state-owned group Electrica is set to list the largest green corporate bond issuance in Romania, worth EUR 500 million, on the Luxembourg and Bucharest stock exchanges. According to the company's press release, the European Investment Bank is one of the key participants in the issuance. Overall investor demand at the final price exceeded the […]
Low-cost airline Wizz Air announced a major expansion of its operations in Bucharest, adding a second aircraft to its base at Băneasa Airport starting this October. The airline will relocate nine routes from Otopeni to Băneasa, five of which will be operated exclusively from the secondary airport. At the same time, six new routes will […]
The annual inflation rate in Romania rose to 5.7% in June, up from 5.45% in May, according to data published on Friday, July 11, by the National Institute of Statistics. It is the highest level this year. The consumer price index, compared to May, was 0.45%. The inflation rate from the beginning of the year, […]
A taxi driver who refused to pick up a passenger at Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport on Thursday night, citing the rule that prohibits the second car in line from leaving the queue, was fined and had his professional license suspended, according to the Romanian Police. Local news channel Digi24...
Local authorities in Buzău County, in the south-east of Romania, announced the opening for traffic of the new bridge over the Buzău River on Friday, July 11. At over 1.3 km in length, it is the second-longest road bridge in the country and is part of the Lot 1 Buzău – Vadu Pașii of the […]
