EIB and Eximbanka Agree €100m Financing Programme for Slovak Exporters

Slovak exporters are set to gain access to up to €100m in financing under a new agreement between the European Investment Bank and the country’s export credit agency, Eximbanka, aimed at helping smaller businesses invest and expand internationally.

The EIB will provide a €50m loan to Eximbanka, which will contribute a further €50m, creating a combined financing programme for small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-sized companies.

The initiative is intended to support innovation, technological upgrades and international business expansion, with approximately 80 per cent of financing directed towards companies in Slovakia’s less developed regions.

The EIB said borrowers would benefit from lower interest rates and longer repayment periods than those generally available through the country’s conventional lending market.

The distinction between the two funding commitments is important. The EIB is providing €50m, rather than directly lending the full €100m to exporters. The larger figure represents the combined programme once Eximbanka’s matching contribution is included.

The agreement expands the financing available through Slovakia’s state export credit institution, which provides loans, guarantees and insurance to support overseas trade.

For smaller exporters, access to longer-term funding can help bridge the period between investment in production capabilities and the generation of additional sales revenue.

Manufacturers entering new markets may need to upgrade equipment, meet overseas certification standards or increase production capacity before receiving the benefits of larger export contracts.

Although the programme is focused on investment and international expansion, it could also influence working-capital requirements by enabling firms to finance longer-term expenditure without relying entirely on shorter-duration corporate liquidity.

EIB vice-president Marek Mora said improved access to long-term capital would help Slovak businesses compete internationally and support higher-value exports.

The agreement builds on previous cooperation between the EIB and Eximbanka, including financing support provided during the pandemic.

Neither institution disclosed individual beneficiaries, specific loan allocations or a timetable for the deployment of the full €100m.

The programme therefore represents new financing capacity rather than evidence that the entire amount has already reached exporters.

For Slovakia’s trade finance market, the agreement broadens access to publicly supported capital at a time when the ability to invest in productive capacity and enter new markets remains central to export competitiveness.