Brussels, 24/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has just granted a EUR 700 m loan to Istanbul to support the city's the metro development. The projects foresees a 17 km track extension on the Anatolian side of Istanbul and a 8 km line on the Western side of the city and subsequently aims to integrate the city's various public transport networks. EIB Vice-President Matthias Kollatz-Ahnen confirmed during the contract signing ceremony that “the EIB will continue to play a key role in the financing of the country's transport sector”. The Minister of State, Mehmet ªimºek; Finance Minister, Kemal Unakýtan and Istanbul's Mayor, Kadir Topbaº also attended the ceremony. The work is expected to be finished, with a fully up and running network, by 2013. (A.D./trans.r.h.)