The European Investment Bank (EIB) and BNL BNP Paribas are putting €335 million into Italian businesses, targeting about 300 small and mid-sized companies across the country, the EIB announced. EIB Vice-President Gelsomina Vigliotti and BNL CEO Elena Goitini signed the deal, which will help firms with fewer than 250 employees and larger companies with up to 3,000 workers. The money will go toward new investments and day-to-day operating costs.
This marks the fifth partnership between the two institutions since 2018. Their previous deals have already channeled more than €2.3 billion to over 1,000 Italian businesses.
Half the funding—around €167.5 million—will flow to southern Italy, where economic growth lags behind the north. Another €100 million will support the agrifood sector, which makes up about 15 percent of Italy’s economy and employs thousands of people. “We can mobilize significant resources to strengthen the real economy, promote territorial cohesion and support strategic sectors for the country such as the agrifood industry,” Vigliotti said.
Goitini highlighted how the partnership helps Italian companies manage the shift toward greener practices and digital technology. She said the collaboration brings both funding and know-how to businesses trying to stay competitive while protecting the Made in Italy brand.
The deal shows how the EIB Group continues working through Italy’s banks to get financing where it matters most—to smaller companies in regions that need it.
