Brussels, 20/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 13 June, the Société Générale de Banque au Liban (SGBL) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed an agreement for the establishment of a credit line of €15 million to partially finance investment projects of small and medium enterprises (SME) and industries (SMI) in Lebanon. This operation is part of chapter III of the plan for financing private sector investments in Lebanon, launched by the EIB in October 2011. The plan of a total value of €55 million, targets the Lebanese SMEs operating in the sectors of industry, tourism, health, education and high technology. This partnership will enable Lebanese SMEs of less than 500 employees, wishing to finance new projects or expand existing projects, to contract loans for a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years, with EIB preferential conditions throughout the SGBL network. (OL/transl.fl)