Brussels, 06/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 October, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved a €300 million loan to the Asturias Region (Principado de Asturias). This loan will finance a series of investments over the 2009-2012 period. The loan will support the implementation of Asturias's 2009-2012 Investment Programme (Programa de Inversión de Asturias), the aim of which is to foster economic growth, job creation and competitiveness in the region through investments promoting health and education, culture, urban regeneration, sustainable mobility, research and innovation and the environmentally sustainable use of natural resources. It comprises small and medium-scale schemes located in Asturias in the areas of health, education, social inclusion, culture and cultural heritage, administration, sustainable transport, information and communications technologies (ICT), research, development and innovation (RDI) and the environment. (O.L./transl.rt)