Brussels, 10/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Fund (EIF) signed three deals with Greek intermediary banks and funds on Tuesday 10 May to provide €150 million of additional investment to very small, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) in Greece.
The first agreement between COSME (the EU programme for the competitiveness of SMEs) and Diorama Investments, a private investment fund, will trigger investments of more than €125 million to Greek SMEs. The second agreement, between the EU programme for employment and social innovation (EaSI) and the Cooperative Bank of Karditsa will cover a loan portfolio of €5 million for over 300 micro-borrowers.
Lastly, the third agreement between the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) backed InnovFin (EU Finance for Innovators) deal with German ProCredit group will provide €20 million to innovative SMEs. This is the first EFSI deal to be signed in Greece (see EUROPE 11547).
Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, welcoming the agreements, said that “small companies in Greece are in great need of financing to grow their businesses and create jobs”. He encouraged other banks to join forces with the EIF to “help more Greek companies flourish”. (Original version in French by Maëlle Didion)