Luxembourg, 02/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced a EUR 30 million global loan to Institut Catala de Finances, to finance small and medium-scale audiovisual and innovative technological ventures undertaken by private enterprises in Catalonia. The loan is part of the EIB's Innovation 2000 Initiative (i2002i) aimed at promoting a European economy based on knowledge and innovation. It is the sixth global loan granted to the Institut Catala de Finances for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of SMEs, but the first to be earmarked specifically for supporting projects in the audiovisual sector. They will be essentially be used to finance investments involving the production, distribution and screening of films and television programmes, promotion of innovative technology and building of technology parks.