Massimiliano Di Pace1 EU TRADE POLICY Eu provides also initiatives, financing and services to support Eu companies’ efforts for internationalisation The measures are: 1)Eib loans 2)Eif funds 3)Programs for Sme internationalisation

Massimiliano Di Pace2 EU TRADE POLICY Eib (European Investment Bank) provides financing for large and small projects aimed at supporting public institutions and enterprises investments In 2009 Eib has financed projects, directly or through commercial banks, funded by Eib, committing 80 billions of euro

Massimiliano Di Pace3 EU TRADE POLICY The Eib activity is made up of 2 main actions: -Loans: granted to programmes or projects in both the public and private sectors; - Technical Assistance: provided by a team of expert economists, engineers and sectoral specialists to complement EIB financing facilities;

Massimiliano Di Pace4 EU TRADE POLICY The Eib has 2 financing facilities: - Individual loans: provided to viable and sound projects and programmes costing more than 25 million euro; - Intermediate loans: they consist incredit lines to banks and financial institutions to help them to provide finance to Sme with eligible investment programmes or projects costing less than 25 million euro

Massimiliano Di Pace5 EU TRADE POLICY Eib lends up to 50% of the investment costs of a project The intermediate loans can be used to cover all expenditure necessary for a small business to develop, such as: - Tangible investments: purchases of plant and equipment, but land purchases are ruled out unless they are essential to the project - Intangible investments: particularly the expenditure involved in R&D, or for building up a distribution networks in domestic or other markets within the EU, or buying Iprs,

Massimiliano Di Pace6 EU TRADE POLICY Eib loans for can be used also to re-establish businesses’ general liquidity ratio The funds required to purchase raw materials, semi-manufactures, work-in-progress or stock, but also commercial loans and payment guarantee instruments, are eligible for financing

Massimiliano Di Pace7 EU TRADE POLICY Small businesses have to address their loan application to the commercial banks that have received an Eib credit line The Eib sites provides the list of intermediate banks, to whom address the project proposal It should be noted that it is entirely up to the partner bank that examines the application and bears the credit risk to decide whether or not to grant the loan

Massimiliano Di Pace8 EU TRADE POLICY

Massimiliano Di Pace9 EU TRADE POLICY Initial contacts to discuss a proposed project can be in any form, by telephone, fax, or letter For such first contacts, the project promoter should provide sufficient information to allow verification of compliance of the investment with the eligibility criteria of the Eib and have a well-developed business plan

Massimiliano Di Pace10 EU TRADE POLICY The project must respect eligibility criteria such as development of Smes, improvement of Eu competitiveness, development of an innovative and knowledge-based European economy, more efficient energy use, alternative energy supplies

Massimiliano Di Pace11 EU TRADE POLICY The Eib will review the promoter's feasibility studies, and make a preliminary assessment of certain aspects of the project including the following aspects: - Technical - Environmental - Economic - Financial - Legal

Massimiliano Di Pace12 EU TRADE POLICY After a positive assessment, the project is approved formally, and the the loan can be drawn down in one or a number of installments according to the borrower's requirements, usually starting within 12 months of the approval date

Massimiliano Di Pace13 EU TRADE POLICY Eif (European Investment Fund) is another Eu financial Institution, which provides financing to Eu financial institutions engaged in venture capital, private equity funds, loans guarantees In fact Eif does not provide direct funding or grants to Smes offering financial resources to a wide range of financial intermediaries (banks, guarantee, microfinance institutions, private equity and venture capital funds, etc) that provide equity finance, loans, micro-loans and guarantees to Smes

Massimiliano Di Pace14 EU TRADE POLICY The list of Eif financial intermediaries providing loans and venture capital to Smes is available in the website In 2009 Eif has financed 39 Equity funds and 22 Guarantees entities committing 3 billions of euro

Massimiliano Di Pace15 EU TRADE POLICY There is a Eu Program, Jeremie (Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises), which promotes increased access to finance for the development of micro and Smes in Eu

Massimiliano Di Pace16 EU TRADE POLICY Eu programs to support businesses internationalisation efforts are: - Gateway to Japan and Korea - Proinvest (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) - AL-Invest (Latin America) - Switch Asia Programme - EU-Japan Centre - Business programmes

Massimiliano Di Pace17 EU TRADE POLICY The Eu Gateway Programme provides financial and logistical support, strategic preparation and a tailored search for business contacts whom the participating EU companies will meet in Japan and/or Korea It is based on Business missions organized by Eu aimed at facilitating meeting Eu and Japanese companies

Massimiliano Di Pace18 EU TRADE POLICY The Proinvest initiative provides grants and assistance for projects carried out in Acp (African, Caribbean, Pacific) countries aimed at supporting economic development in all sectors Proposals can be presented by organisations based both in Eu or in Acp countries

Massimiliano Di Pace19 EU TRADE POLICY Al-Invest is an economic co-operation program that aims to support the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (Smes) in Latin America, in collaboration with their European partners in order to contribute to reinforce social cohesion in the region

Massimiliano Di Pace20 EU TRADE POLICY The program funds projects for organizations that represent and promote private sector development, such as Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations, Export- Promotion Agencies, etc., and facilitates the process of internationalization of LA Smes

Massimiliano Di Pace21 EU TRADE POLICY The aim of Switch Asia program is to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns in Asia To achieve this objective, the program works simultaneously on the ground, with producers and consumers, and at the level of policy- making through supporting for formulation and implementation of environmental policies

Massimiliano Di Pace22 EU TRADE POLICY The Eu portal for Sme is the information centre of all Eu initiatives aimed at helping Eu Smes