Brussels, 07/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - Last week, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Banca Popolare di Vicenza and SACE arranged a €100 million credit line designed to foster the international competitiveness of small businesses and mid-caps caps (firms with between 250 and 3,000 employees) in the industry, agriculture, tourism and service sectors. This is the first instalment of an EIB loan of up €200 million to Banca Popolare di Vicenza carrying SACE's guarantee, which can now be onlent to small businesses to finance growth projects in external markets. At least 70% of the funding will serve to finance investment by SMEs (firms with up to 250 employees) in tangible and intangible assets as well as the working capital requirements relating to their normal productive activity. The remainder will go to projects carried out by mid-caps. (OL/transl.fl)