This press conference started a series of media events planned by the Ministry and Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) was the first bank invited due to its active financing of the real sector.

The bank will exted investment credits, as well as credits funding construction and repair works and purchase of furniture, equipment, sanitary materials and medicines.

Raiffeisen Leasing will act as a universal leasing company and offer leasing for a variety of assets with special focus on financial leasing. It is still undergoing registration, and is expected to begin its work in mid-2004 first in Sofia.

Raiffeisenbank (Bulgaria) EAD and Microfund EAD signed an agreement, under which the bank will extend a five-year credit line worth $3.0 mln (2.5 mln euro) in support of small and medium-sized enterprises.

In November, Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria started offering the international debit card VISA Electron in national and euro currency, besides in U.S. dollars.

The new credit is in support of purchases of new and up to 2-years used cars, trucks and vans from authorised importers or car dealers.