EIF and BT Microfinantare IFN Expand InvestEU Microfinance Guarantee for Romanian Entrepreneurs

EIF and BT Microfinantare IFN Expand InvestEU Microfinance Guarantee for Romanian Entrepreneurs

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) and BT Microfinantare IFN (BT Mic) have reinforced their commitment to the InvestEU Microfinance, Social and Skills Guarantee Product, aiming to provide financial support to 10,000 microenterprises across various sectors, including agriculture, in Romania. Through an increased guarantee of up to RON 714 million, this initiative seeks to enhance access to finance for small businesses, particularly those with an annual turnover of less than RON 1 million. The partnership, which builds upon a successful agreement initiated in September 2022, underscores the shared dedication of EIF and BT Mic to promote financial inclusion and foster responsible entrepreneurship in Romania’s economy.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 20-Feb-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The InvestEU Microfinance, Social and Skills Guarantee Product is offering access to finance for 10,000 microenterprises from various sectors, including agriculture.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and BT Microfinantare IFN (BT Mic) have signed a commitment to increase the InvestEU guarantee that covers an additional loan portfolio of up to RON 714 million for 10,000 micro  businesses.

The objective of this increase is to further foster the access to finance for small businesses in all sectors, especially for those with an annual turnover of less than RON 1 million.

The original agreement with BT Mic was signed in September 2022 and it was the first InvestEU engagement in Romania, aiming to support the financing of a portfolio of RON 500 million. The agreement has been successfully implemented for the benefit of over 5,000 entrepreneurs, with BT Mic as the first lender for 75% of them, demonstrating BT Mic’s focus on financial inclusion. More than 20% of the financed micro-enterprises are start-ups, less than 12 months old.

Marjut Falkstedt, EIF Chief Executive says: “European instruments for microfinance are efficient in enhancing access to financial resources for those economic actors who are most in need. For this reason EIF is renewing the collaboration with BT Mic via InvestEU. Our partnership aims to reinforce the capacity to serve the microentrepreneurial sector in Romania.”

Cristina Sindile, BT Mic CEO, says: “Doubling the value of the InvestEU commitment just one and a half years after the signing the the original contract shows both an increased need to support small businesses and our determination to fund these businesses responsibly. As a result, together with the EIF we will facilitate the access to finance for an additional 10,000 entrepreneurs.”

Background information

About InvestEU

The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilize private investments for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of EUR 26.2 billion. The entire budgetary guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least EUR 372 billion in additional investment.

About the European Investment Fund

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the EIB Group. It supports Europe’s small businesses by improving their access to finance through a wide range of selected financial intermediaries, such as banks, guarantee and leasing companies, micro-credit providers and private equity funds. The EIF designs and offers equity and debt financing instruments fostering EU objectives in support of entrepreneurship, growth, innovation, research and development, the green and digital transitions and employment.

About BT Mic

BT Mic is part of the Banca Transilvania Financial Group and addresses companies with an annual turnover of up to RON 1 million from all fields of activity. BT Mic ensures the access to financing: over 75% of the customers obtained their first business loan via BT Mic, the largest microfinance provider in Romania, with more than 18,500 active clients and more than 30,000 loans granted since the start of its operations in 2017. BT Mic supports micro-entrepreneurs with non-financial services, such as: the only online acceleration program in Romania for small business; (2) free training programmes; consultancy services; seminaries in finance and banking; conferences and courses organized at Stup, which is a physical (in Bucharest) and virtual place, dedicated to supporting the entrepreneurial community. Under the #sefacelastup umbrella, Banca Transilvania and BT Mic have created the right infrastructure to connect entrepreneurs with service and product providers for business start-up and management.

Media Contacts:

Daniel Kozak
d.kozak@ext.eib.org
Tel.: +352437970905
Website: www.eib.org/press

Press Office:
+352437921000
press@eib.org

Laura Petrehuș
laura.petrehus@btrl.ro
Tel: +40724567364
www.btmic.ro

SOURCE: European Investment Fund