KBC, CBC, and EIB launch EUR 300m loan facility for Belgian companies

In this way, KBC, CBC, and EIB demonstrate their commitment to realizing more sustainable projects in Belgium.

KBC, CBC, and the European Investment Bank are launching a loan facility totaling EUR 300 million for Belgian companies. In this way, KBC, CBC, and EIB demonstrate their commitment to realizing more sustainable projects in Belgium.

Wim Eraly, Senior General Manager Corporate Banking KBC Division Belgium: "Reducing the impact of global warming is one of the biggest challenges facing our society. Large and small companies will, therefore, have to adapt in a relatively short period of time in order to reduce their ecological footprint. KBC Group wants to help them with this by supporting them as a bank, insurer and asset manager in their transition to a greener economy. After all, this is embedded in our business strategy. This joint programme between KBC and the EIB makes the financing of sustainable investments much more attractive for Belgian companies and thus directly contributes to a more sustainable society".

Dirk Ector, General Manager Corporates at KBC Bank Belgium completes: "Farmers, horticulturists and the agribusiness sector, as well as companies in other sectors, are facing ongoing investment to meet evolving consumer needs and expectations. However, what is often still seen as a feasible and acceptable additional investment for medium-sized enterprises is less obvious for the smaller scale and more family-oriented Belgian agriculture and horticulture. As outspoken experts with many years of sector experience in this field, we are therefore pleased that - together with the EIB - we can now help this sector even better to implement visible and less visible measures to better position itself in a changing society. ”

"This initiative rewards those companies that really do their best to become greener," added EIB Vice President Emma Navarro. "Thanks to this partnership with KBC, sustainability leaders have the opportunity to further expand their activities or finance new innovative plans. The EIB, as the EU climate bank, is increasingly lending for sustainability which, also in the light of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, shows that green business makes economic sense".

KBC loans with EIB support are available to SMEs (up to 3,000 employees) investing in sustainability and/or the bioeconomy. Applications must comply with normal EIB and KBC credit conditions. The total investment may not exceed EUR 25 million. The final approval of the credit rests with KBC.