The Catalan Institute of Finance (ICF) held today in Figueres a work session with about 30 businessmen and businesswomen, both from the municipality and nearby towns, with the aim of listening to the projects of the companies, the future challenges of the economic fabric of the area and the financing needs of companies.

During the meeting, it was announced that the ICF has financed, during the last three years, 289 companies and entities in the counties of Girona for a total amount of 174 million euros. As for the Alt Empordà region, 57 customers have been financed for a value of 8.1 million euros. In terms of sectors, 49% of resources have been directed to the agri-food industry and the primary sector, 33% to trade, tourism and transport, 9% to education, culture and sports, and 9% to other projects.

The meeting focused on the ICF's desire to listen first-hand to businessmen and women who play a key role in boosting the Catalan economy in this territory and on the fact that the ICF is a useful and agile instrument for financing companies in the Alt Empordà. The ICF's commercial director, Antoni Vallès, and the director of Administration, Finance and Markets, Jordi Vila, explained how public promotion banks can help companies, freelancers and entities to make their projects a reality and how it can accompany them in good and bad times. Afterwards, Lluís Bruguera, delegate in Girona, shared the different financial solutions that the ICF makes available to companies to promote growth, innovation and sustainability in the business fabric. 

Subsequently, Francesc Roche, commercial delegate for financing the area, moderated a participation table of Àrea i Serveis Vilamalla SL and Muga Holidays where challenges such as sustainability and recycling, fuel distribution and collaboration and the role of the ICF in times of growth and also difficulties of companies have been put on the table.