EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, has committed €350 million in a funding initiative with Banco do Brasil to support women-led businesses and renewable energy projects in the Legal Amazon region. The partnership was formalised during the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, and is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, reflecting Europe’s commitment to international partnerships, inclusive growth, and climate action.
The initiative aims to develop the private sector in the Amazon through microcredit for women-owned or managed microenterprises and through renewable electricity generation projects, primarily rooftop solar panels for self-consumption in remote communities. The programme is expected to empower women entrepreneurs, create jobs, strengthen local energy autonomy, and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable regional economy.
This partnership also reinforces the EU-Brazil Green Deal and supports Brazil’s commitments under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle highlighted that the project fosters inclusive economic growth and strengthens the EU’s strategic partnership with Brazil on climate action. Banco do Brasil Vice-President José Ricardo Sasseron emphasized the bank’s leadership in global financial agreements and the integration of economic growth, environmental responsibility, and social inclusion.
The Global Gateway strategy underpins this initiative, aiming to reduce global investment disparities, promote smart and sustainable infrastructure, and mobilize up to €300 billion in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027. The project aligns with EIB Global’s broader mandate to strengthen international partnerships, enhance local capacities, and support sustainable development in emerging markets.
EIB Global has been active in Brazil since 1997, with over €5.7 billion invested, making the country the largest beneficiary of EIB financing in Latin America. Banco do Brasil, recognized among the world’s most sustainable banks, brings expertise in sustainability, clean energy, and responsible lending, ensuring that the initiative promotes long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits for the Amazon region.
