Luxembourg, 05/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - During the first four months of 2002, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted loans totalling EUR 42.5 million to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP). Most of the venture capital came from European Development Funds and was distributed as follows:
Cameroon: EUR 12 million for Camrail s.a. for the modernisation of the main railway line, with better safety conditions and for supporting the development of internal links with Chad and the Central African Republic, as well as preparing the privatisation of is railway network.
Gabon: EUR 22 million for the partial funding of Gabon's participation in the sub-marine fibre optic telephone project, SAT 3/WASC/SAFE.
Mauritania: EUR 4 million for the Grands Moulins de Mauritania and the construction of a flour mill and a cattle feed production unit that should be able to transform cultivated cereals in the country or from abroad. The project intends to encourage internal production and increase price stability with increased storage capacity. An EUR loan of 2.5 million has been made to, Société d'assainissement, de travaux, de transport et de maintenance (ATTM), the public civil engineering company to acquire building materials and upkeep the roads.
Mauritius: EUR 2 million has been lent to the Central Electricity Board of Mauritius for enlarging the power station and installing a new diesel turbo-generator in Port Mathurin on the Island of Rodrigues. The project aims to satisfy increasing demand and improve electricity generation, a prerequisite for economic development.