In its efforts to support the small business sector in Egypt, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Cairo has provided its first direct financing to a small enterprise Europack. The Bank’s funding is part of the EBRD’s Small Business Initiative, through which it has the capacity to provide direct finance to selected SMEs. Europack, a private manufacturer of tin packaging solutions for industrial goods, will receive a EUR1.78 million-equivalent loan in EGP. The EBRD investment will help Europack to expand its production by purchasing plastic packaging and general tin can production lines. The EBRD has invested over EUR1.7 billion in Egypt through 33 projects since the start of its activities in the country in 2012. The bank’s areas of investment include the financial sector, agribusiness, manufacturing and services, as well as infrastructure projects such as power, municipal water and wastewater and contributions to the upgrade of transport services. (EBRD)