The public promotional bank grant loans and guarantees to a total of 174 companies and entities in 2024, 87% more than the previous year. Industry is the sector most financed by the entity in the Girona region, followed by commerce, tourism and transport and social housing. The ICF brings together 150 representatives of companies, entities and economic agents of the vegueria to its Business Meeting in Girona.
The ICF has increased its funding in the Girona region by 81% during 2024. The public promotion bank of Catalonia has mobilised a total of 99.4 million euros in loans and guarantees, compared to 55.1 million in 2023.
The increase in the activity of the entity of the Generalitat de Catalunya in the vegueria has also been accompanied by an increase of 87% in the number of companies and entities financed to a total of 174 customers, compared to 93 in 2023.
The sector most financed by the ICF in the Girona region in 2024 was industry, which received 36% of the amount granted in loans and guarantees to the vegueria, followed by commerce, tourism and transport (23%) and social housing (21%).
This is indicated by the data shared this morning by the CEO of the ICF, Vanessa Servera, at the Business Meeting organized by the entity at the Josep Irla Auditorium in Girona as part of the celebration of its 40th anniversary, which was attended by 150 representatives of companies, entities and economic agents.
"Our activity data in the Girona region reflect the good work of the ICF in the area, a commitment that we want to continue strengthening to help more and more customers make their projects and investments a reality," said the CEO, who recalled that in 2024 the public bank has doubled its number of commercial delegates in the vegueria to four.
"The ICF exists so that no viable project in Catalonia is left undone due to lack of long-term financing," added Vanessa Servera in her speech, in which she defended the role of public promotional banks in complementing the financing of private banks, providing more years for debt repayment and promoting strategic and transformative projects for Catalonia.
Concentrol, Tecnic and Mimasa and the Fundació Support-Girona participate in the round table with ICF customers
The day closed with a round table with companies from the Girona region in which Jaume Guardia, CEO of Concentrol; Pere Cornellà, president of the Support-Girona Foundation; Laura Seràs Selva, co-founder and financial director of Tecnic Bioprocess Solutions and Laura Busquets, financial and human resources director of Mimasa Washtech.
All four agreed to highlight the "good treatment of the entity" when it comes to adapting to their needs and acting as a "complement to private financing", as well as the ability of public development banks to accompany them throughout the cycle of their business project. They also underlined the challenge that the ICF has when it comes to "improving its knowledge among the entire business fabric" in order to promote more and more companies.
On the other hand, they have expressed their concern about the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, but have made it clear that "it is still too early to determine the effects that these measures will have" on their companies and have been optimistic, since "this type of situation can also generate new opportunities".