Luxembourg, 09/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted a 33 million euro loan on its own-resources for the financing of air control equipment in Central and East Africa, as well as in Madagascar. This is the first loan grated under the investment facility approved by the EIB for a total of 66 million euro. The project is to contribute to the safety of air navigation between Africa and Europe and the air space over the Indian Ocean, within the respect of standards defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation . The borrower is the "Agency for air navigation in Africa and Madagascar", an international organisation that brings together 14 Central and Western African States, Madagascar and France. The loan will allow for the considerable modernisation of air safety infrastructures in Africa so as, in compliance with the request of customers and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), to assure the reliability of air traffic in full growth, which is an essential factor for the economic development of the African Continent.