12/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 8 October, the European Investment Bank (EIB) decided to grant a package of €3 m in long-term funding to the Bank of the Cook Islands. The loan aims to improve access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the Cook Islands. This is the EIB's first initiative in favour of this South Pacific nation, which will benefit from the funding mechanism set in place in favour of the Pacific islands. (A.B./transl.jl)