Since 1996, the EIF has invested over €3.1 billion in Belgium – supporting more than 23,000 businesses. Working with the government, regions and local partners – and through InvestEU collaborations with regional investment entities – the EIF has financed a unique mix of Belgian SMEs, from film post-production companies to museum exhibition organisers.
Examples include an agreement with ING Belgium to support sustainability, innovation, and digitalisation projects, and a more recent collective agreement with PMV Group, Wallonie Entreprendre, and finance&invest.brussels, which enabled over €600 million in new SME lending.
The leap from a stable job in a large organisation to starting your own business can be a daunting prospect – and it certainly takes courage. But that’s exactly what ex-top executives Ine Verhaert and Helga Meersmans did, leaving senior management roles at major fashion companies to launch their own venture. “Before, we coordinated large teams. Now, we do everything on our own – from marketing to web development and logistics,” says Ine, co-founder of KAAI, which designs and produces handbags for working women in big cities.
KAAI was supported by an EU-guaranteed loan under the EFSI Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility, backed by the European Investment Fund (EIF), helping to turn their entrepreneurial vision into reality.