Brussels, 23/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 22 November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a €500 million loan to Spain's Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) to finance on favourable terms the investment projects and working capital of small and medium-sized businesses, mainly in the industrial and service sectors. ICO will match the EIB loan with the same amount, making a total of €1 billion to be pumped into the small business sector. The money will help small business access lending with long maturity dates, flexible disbursement schedules and low interest rates, and will finance small and medium-scale projects carried out by small businesses, mainly in convergence regions in Spain, where small businesses are key to safeguarding and creating jobs. It will also support projects contributing to energy saving and diversification and promote private enterprise in the health and education sectors. (OL/transl.fl)