OREANDA-NEWS. In 2015 in Slovenia the European Investment Bank signed new loans totalling EUR 798m, representing a record level since the start of the Bank’s operations in the country in 1993.

EIB Vice-President László Baranyay, responsible for the Bank’s operations in Central European countries, presented the EU bank’s results in Ljubljana today and noted that the EIB intends to maintain its high level of activities in Slovenia in the years ahead, counting on the identification of valuable projects together with promoters.

“2015 was a significant year for the EIB in Slovenia, where it signed a record volume of loans of EUR 798m”, said Vice-President Baranyay, adding that “EIB support last year concentrated on priority projects strengthening the competitiveness of Slovenia, contributing to growth and employment and improving the quality of life of the country’s citizens. This year the EIB will focus on operations designed particularly to increase the involvement of private capital in Slovenia for implementing projects with a higher risk. The EIB Group will also expand its presence in Slovenia in 2016 by opening an office in Ljubljana”, concluded Mr Baranyay.

In 2015 the EU bank provided a EUR 500m loan to the Republic of Slovenia to co-finance priority projects supported by EU funds during the 2014-2020 programming period. EIB funds underpin investments in the areas of transport, energy, environment, health, R&D infrastructure, nature protection, social infrastructure, improvement of training and access to employment, ICT, urban regeneration, water and waste.

This is the first EIB loan supporting projects aimed at helping Slovenia face the challenges of the ongoing refugee crisis. It will co-finance strategic projects with a total value of EUR 3.8bn that are significant for meeting the targets of the Slovenian Government under the Europe 2020 Strategy.

Last year, the EIB lent EUR 145m to motorway concession company Družba za avtoceste v Republiki Sloveniji d.d. to finance the construction of a new 13-km motorway section between Draženci and Gruškovje and the rehabilitation of several motorway sections across the whole country.

In 2015, the Bank provided a loan of EUR 133m for investments by Slovenian electricity distribution companies relating to the extension and refurbishment of the network and installation of advanced metering infrastructure.

The EIB signed in 2015 one intermediated loan contract amounting to EUR 20m with a Slovenian partner financing institution. The funds are being used to finance projects carried out by SMEs, midcap companies and municipalities in the fields of local infrastructure, environmental protection, energy, R&D, innovation and services, including tourism.