KfW and Polish state development bank BGK conclude EUR 100 million global loan agreement to support Polish SME sector

Frankfurt/M. (ots) -

- KfW's stronger involvement in Europe continues
- Long-term investment loans for Polish SMEs

KfW has concluded a global loan agreement in the amount of EUR 100
million with the State Development Bank of Poland - Bank Gospodarstwa
Krajowego (BGK). The loan has a term of approximately 10 years. The
funds will be used to finance long-term investment loans for small
and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Poland. As one of the most
important suppliers for investment in capital goods, the German
economy also stands to benefit indirectly from an improved investment
climate in Poland.

The commitment of the global loan to BGK is in line with KfW's
stronger involvement in Europe. KfW and BGK work together within a
number of European associations and networks including the Network of
European Financial Institutions for Small and Medium-Sized
Enterprises (NEFI) and the European Long-Term Investors Association
(ELTI).

KfW's CEO Dr Ulrich Schröder on the collaboration: "This first
global loan to support Poland's SME sector is an expression of the
strong partnership between KfW and BGK as important European
promotional banks. By issuing the loan, KfW is supporting BGK's
long-term funding and helping improve the financing conditions for
SMEs in a country that is an important neighbour and partner for
Germany. At the same time, KfW is reinforcing its strong and
long-standing collaboration with BGK in the NEFI and ELTI. We intend
to further intensify our bilateral cooperation, and stay in constant
contact to achieve this."

"KfW's global loan for the financing of the SME sector is in line
with our mission to support economic and social development of the
country. The additional EUR 100 milion will have a positive impact on
maintaining the pace of SMEs' investments. These financial means will
complement our existing offer for SMEs - guarantees de minimis,
funding available under the JEREMIE programme or loans for setting up
business activity. We are pleased that the cooperation with European
partners helps us to even better fulfil our mission as a development
bank", said Dariusz Kacprzyk, the President of the Management Board
of BGK.

For further information: www.kfw.de/Europe

Pressekontakt:
KfW, Palmengartenstr. 5 - 9, 60325 Frankfurt
Kommunikation (KOM), Wolfram Schweickhardt,
Tel. +49 (0)69 7431 1778, Fax: +49 (0)69 7431 3266,
E-Mail: presse@kfw.de, Internet: www.kfw.de