News from 03-10-2024

NEFI HIGH-LEVEL Meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria

From 2 to 3 October 2024, Sofia, Bulgaria was the site of a High-Level gathering of the representative members of the Network of European Financial Institutions for SMEs (NEFI). The meeting, hosted by the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB), brought together key representatives from all 20 NEFI member organizations to address pressing European financial and economic topics, with a focus on fostering competitiveness across Europe.

The central themes of the discussions revolved around the evolving business models of NPBIs, the strategic role of InvestEU, and other significant European initiatives aimed at driving long-term economic resilience. The participants engaged in in-depth conversations on how national promotional banks can continue to act as essential enablers of European, regional and local economies.

The collaborative dialogue emphasized how these institutions can better support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and facilitate greater access to finance in key sectors. In this context, the role of InvestEU was a significant point of discussion, where members exchanged best practices on how they could better utilize InvestEU for future projects.

All participants also agreed on a set of future priorities to strengthen the role of NPBIs in promoting European competitiveness. These priorities will guide NEFI's activities and collaborative efforts in the coming years, with a focus on ensuring the long-term resilience and sustainability of Europe’s economy.

After the meeting, members formalized their shared vision by signing a joint statement, outlining the importance of public financial institutions in mobilizing resources and shaping economic policy to meet the challenges ahead.