Category Archives: Small Business

Small Business Press Releases & News distributed via EuropaWire

European Investment Bank Extends €70 Million Loan to Bolster Armenian SMEs and Mid-Caps

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing a loan of €70 million to the Central Bank of Armenia as part of the Armenian Economic Resilience Programme, backed by the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). This funding … Read the full press release

Joint Effort by EIB and Santander Portugal Aims to Fuel Investments in the Portuguese Economy

(IN BRIEF) Santander Portugal and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed an agreement to help Portuguese mid-cap companies access financing more easily in a challenging financial landscape marked by high interest rates and limited liquidity. Under the deal, EIB … Read the full press release

EBRD and EU Empower Georgian Women-Led Enterprises with $20 Million Loan to TBC Bank

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and Sweden, is providing a $20 million loan to TBC Bank in Georgia. This financing is aimed at bolstering lending opportunities for micro, … Read the full press release

Henkel’s Xathon Expands to AI Focus While Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

(IN BRIEF) Henkel’s Xathon, a hackathon for early-stage female entrepreneurs, has transformed into an open innovation challenge with a strong focus on AI while maintaining its commitment to supporting women in tech. In its fifth edition, Xathon addresses real business … Read the full press release

European Investment Fund Backs Croatian Innovation with CVCi 2 Funding

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia have announced a funding agreement for the Croatian Venture Capital Initiative 2 (CVCi 2). This program builds on the success of the … Read the full press release

EIB and Deutsche Bank Forge €600 Million Agreement to Bolster Italian SMEs and Mid-Caps

(IN BRIEF) A substantial financial boost of nearly €600 million is set to invigorate Italy, as the EIB Group, comprised of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF), partners with Deutsche Bank. This initiative aims to support … Read the full press release

EIB and COFINA Partner to Advance Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal with €26.8 Million Funding

(IN BRIEF) Compagnie Financière Africaine (COFINA) in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Commission support, have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the development of sustainable agricultural value chains. This agreement … Read the full press release

EIB and Deutsche Bank Collaborate to Inject €600 Million into Italian SMEs and Mid-Caps

(IN BRIEF) A substantial financial boost of nearly €600 million is set to invigorate Italy, as the EIB Group, comprised of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF), partners with Deutsche Bank. This initiative aims to support … Read the full press release

EIB and Deutsche Bank Collaborate to Support Sustainable Transformation of Mid-Sized Companies

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Deutsche Bank are partnering to provide long-term loans to mid-sized companies with 250 to 3,000 employees to facilitate their transition to more sustainable business models. The EIB will offer guarantees covering up … Read the full press release

Peruvian Cocoa Industry Adapts to European Regulations on Deforestation with Support from Solidaridad

(IN BRIEF) Peru’s cocoa industry, experiencing rapid growth in exports, faces the challenge of complying with new European Union regulations aimed at reducing deforestation in agricultural commodities. Solidaridad, in collaboration with partner organizations and the Peruvian government, is coordinating efforts … Read the full press release

EIF and Arbevel Partner to Provide €72 Million Boost for SMEs and Sustainability through InvestEU

(IN BRIEF) The European Investment Fund (EIF) backed by the InvestEU program has partnered with Arbevel to provide a portfolio guarantee of up to €72 million in financing for SMEs and lower mid-caps. This agreement encompasses three InvestEU windows: “Innovation … Read the full press release

EBRD Invests €15 Million in PHH Group to Boost E-commerce Expansion in the Baltic States

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is investing €15 million in PHH Group, a leading e-commerce platform in the Baltic states. This investment aims to support the expansion of PHH Group’s logistical capacity and cross-border fulfillment … Read the full press release

Banque Populaire, SOCAMA, and EIF Sign €1 Billion Agreement to Support French SMEs

(IN BRIEF) Banque Populaire, Fédération Nationale des SOCAMA, and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have signed a €1 billion loan counter-guarantee agreement under the SME Competitiveness InvestEU program. Over two decades, this partnership with EIF has facilitated €9 billion in … Read the full press release

EBRD and EU Collaborate to Boost Armenian MSMEs Through Acba Bank Funding

(IN BRIEF) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are collaborating to enhance access to finance for Armenian micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through Acba Bank. The EBRD is providing a loan equivalent … Read the full press release

NatWest Survey Reveals Positive Outlook Among SME Law Firms Despite Margin Pressures

NatWest Survey: UK Regional Business Activity Slows in July 2023, Employment Holds Steady while Inflation Trends Vary

(IN BRIEF) A newly released legal benchmarking survey commissioned by NatWest reveals that 9 out of 10 small to medium-sized (SME) law firms are optimistic about their financial performance in the upcoming year. NatWest’s ninth Legal Report analyzes the financial … Read the full press release

Swisscom Launches New IT Security Services for Small SMEs, Bolstering Protection Against Phishing and Cyber Threats

(IN BRIEF) Swisscom has introduced two new IT security services, Secure Internet Traffic and Mail Security, aimed at providing advanced protection from phishing and enhancing cybersecurity for small SMEs. These cloud security solutions were previously available to larger enterprise customers … Read the full press release

EBRD and Addiko Bank Collaborate to Empower SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina with €5 Million Loan and Training Academy

(IN BRIEF) The EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and Addiko Bank Banja Luka in Bosnia and Herzegovina have signed a €5 million loan agreement to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This marks the EBRD’s third loan to … Read the full press release

Entrepreneur Transforms Old Building into Artful Boutique Hotel with Support from Small Business Advice Programme

(IN BRIEF) Meergul, owner of Art Hotel in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, has transformed an old building into a unique boutique hotel with distinct room designs and local artwork. Despite being hard of hearing, Meergul is a social entrepreneur who actively promotes … Read the full press release

UK SMEs Poised to Drive Employment Growth: Expected to Hire 3.5 Million People This Quarter

(IN BRIEF) UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are expected to contribute to significant employment growth this quarter, with the potential to hire up to 3.5 million people. This positive projection is based on data from the Barclays Business Barometer, … Read the full press release

NatWest Survey: UK Regional Business Activity Slows in July 2023, Employment Holds Steady while Inflation Trends Vary

NatWest Survey: UK Regional Business Activity Slows in July 2023, Employment Holds Steady while Inflation Trends Vary

(IN BRIEF) In July 2023, the NatWest Regional PMI® survey revealed a divergent landscape for UK regional business activity. While business growth across regions hit a six-month low due to reduced demand, employment remained relatively robust, with nine out of … Read the full press release