BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 28. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Rabobank are ramping up their support for sustainable businesses, offering 300 million euros to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on environmental impact, Trend reports.
This new initiative builds on the successful partnership between the two institutions, which has already provided over 1.8 billion euros in financing to more than 1,000 SMEs over the past nine years.
Sustainability is a key priority for both the EIB and Rabobank, who see the growing importance of businesses investing in a sustainable future. Through the Rabo Impactlening instrument, companies committed to environmental goals have benefited from favorable loan conditions since 2015.
Rabobank’s NL Retail Director, Carlo van Kemenade, highlighted the increasing demand for sustainable financing, noting that successful businesses today focus not only on financial returns but also on their environmental and social impact. These companies play a critical role in preparing the economy for a more sustainable future, and Rabobank is proud to continue supporting their ambitions.
EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot emphasized that achieving climate goals requires collective action, and SMEs’ sustainability efforts are essential in this process. He added that the EIB’s ongoing partnership with Rabobank, marked by the signing of its ninth impact loan, demonstrates that green investments can also be economically beneficial.